STAFF at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen have faced a weekend of pressure due to high demand at its emergency department, prompting a plea for people not to attend without serious conditions.
The Western Health and Social Care Trust said yesterday continued to be "extremely busy" for the Irvinestown Road hospital, with demand for services stretching staff to the limit.
The trust issued a plea on social media for people to visit only in genuine emergency cases.
It comes as trusts across the north continue to face accident and emergency pressures caused by factors including staff sickness and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
"The Emergency Department at South West Acute Hospital has been very busy all weekend and continues to be extremely busy today," a Western Trust spokesperson said yesterday.
"We currently have 39 people in the Emergency Department and 30 awaiting admission."
The trust urged people to use the Minor Injuries Unit at Omagh Hospital for less serious conditions, but said those with a "life-threatening, medical or mental health emergency" should attend the nearest emergency department.
"If attending the Emergency Department, you must wear a face covering and adhere to social distancing measures," the spokesperson added, highlighting the risks still posed to staff and patients by Covid.
The latest request by the trust follows a warning at the end of March that staff were dealing with "unprecedented pressures due to the high level of Covid-19 infection in our local community and the subsequent increasing numbers of Covid-19 positive patients in our hospitals".
Its chief executive Neil Guckian said the ongoing pressure was causing "great concern" and had forced the trust to consider "if we need to step down some services and redirect staff for a period of time".
Earlier this month the trust said demand at its Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry had led to one patient waiting four days to be admitted after arriving at the emergency department, while others were forced to wait in corridors for up to 24 hours before getting to lie down.
