A number of elective operations and day procedures have been cancelled today at the Mid West Regional HospitalRelated

The HSE is also appealing to people not to attend the hospital's Emergency department unless absolutely necessary.

The HSE is also appealing to people not to attend the hospital's Emergency department unless absolutely necessary.

The executive said there was a sudden surge in attendances at its emergency department, resulting in an unprecedented demand for beds.

Extra ward rounds took place yesterday to try and discharge as many patients as possible, so that beds could be made available.

However due to the surge in patients, those booked in for medical, surgical and elective procedures were informed that their procedures have had to be postponed.

Hospital CEO Ann Doherty said they regretted the inevitable delay and inconvenience this has caused patients, but dealing with the situation in the emergency department must take priority.

A statement from the HSE said that doctors were unable to ascribe any single explanation to the present surge in the emergency department.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said that persistent and gross overcrowding had made it impossible for nurses to provide safe care for patients.

They say the major emergency plan should be implemented due to the unsafe clinical environment, and that nurses should be immediately recruited on fixed term contracts.