Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda says it has been forced to activate newly introduced overcrowding procedures.

Under the national protocol, hospitals must take action if patients are waiting more than 9 hours in emergency departments.

The hospital says it has been putting extra beds in wards and placing patients in day wards since Friday to cope with the situation.

“The hospital is operating escalation procedures in accordance with national protocols,” said Professor Doiminic O'Brannagáin, Clinical Director, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda.

“The Full Capacity Protocol, which places patients onto wards, has been in operation on a continuous basis since the 27th November 2015. 

“Under it, a number of patients have been transferred to full capacity protocol trollies at ward level including on the medical, surgical and day care wards,” he added.