Portlaoise Hospital has issued a statement on the impact that the ransomware attack on the HSE is having on its services.
Outpatient radiology appointments have been cancelled while some elective inpatient procedures have suffered the same fate.
The A&E Department is ‘very busy’ and there are significant delays for patients who are seeking ‘non-urgent’ care.
A spokesperson said: “Emergency services continue. The emergency department is very busy and reporting significant delays for patients requiring non-urgent care.
“Outpatient radiology appointments are cancelled. Some elective inpatient procedures have been cancelled. Patients are being contacted by the hospital.
“The HSE asks that patients who are attending our hospital bring with them their most recent hospital letter.
“Patients attending for antenatal or maternity should also bring their combined antenatal card or patient number.
“You can contact the hospital at 057 8696771 or 057 8696340 if you have any query.”
The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, of which Portlaoise is part of, also issued an update on the situation in each of its other hospitals.
For the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, they said: “Routine OPD radiology (plain X-rays, ultrasound, MRI, CT) are cancelled. Vascular outpatients (Doppler tests) are cancelled.
“Cardiac Investigations (stress/echo tests) are cancelled. Elective inpatient & daycase procedures are continuing. If you are attending for an appointment, bring your most recent hospital letter.
“Our emergency department is very busy and reporting significant delays for patients requiring non-urgent care.”
For Naas General Hospital, they said: “All routine outpatient radiology and Phlebotomy (blood tests) appointments are cancelled until further notice.
“The hospital cannot make contact with these patients directly. If you have an appointment, please do not attend. We regret any inconvenience and appointments will be rescheduled asap.
“The emergency department is very busy and reporting delays for patients requiring non-urgent care. For any queries please phone 045 849910 between 8.30am – 5pm.”
For the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital, they said: “Services and outpatient appointments are due to run as scheduled but the hospital apologises in advance for any delays you may experience.”
For St Lukes Radiation Oncology Network, they said: “All outpatients appointments and all non-emergency Radiation Treatment have been cancelled until further notice, across St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network sites: St. Luke’s Hospital Rathgar; St. Luke’s Centre at Beaumont Hospital; St. Luke’s Centre at St. James’s Hospital.
“The network has initiated a plan to treat all urgent radiation patients in the private sector which commenced on Friday and is continuing. To reassure patients routine radiation treatments can be temporarily interrupted safely without negatively impacting on their outcome. Patients will be contacted directly by our staff about their appointments.
“If you feel unwell or symptomatic please contact your usual St. Luke’s Centre directly, the team are available to take your call. The hospital says it is doing everything possible to get our systems ready to treat patients with radiation again next week. If you have any queries please call 01-4065000.”
For Tallaght University Hospital, they said: “Please only attend the ED if you require urgent care. Our emergency department is very busy and reporting significant delays for patients requiring non-urgent care.
“All routine Radiology outpatient appointments cancelled. We ask that patients who are attending our hospital to bring with them their most recent hospital letter.”
And for St James’s Hospital, they said: “The Hospital are advising all patients to attend their scheduled appointments as normal.
“If necessary, any updates will be posted on their twitter and website; stjames.ie.”
