Nursing union rep asks public not to present at Mullingar ED without referral from GP

There's an appeal for people not to present at the Emergency Department at Mullingar hospital unless absolutely necessary.

The plea comes from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation as a serious state of overcrowding continues at the hospital.

Members of the INMO staged a lunchtime protest in Mullingar on the 19th of last month warning of understaffing and excessive workload.

Albert Murphy from the INMO says little has changed at the hospital over the last few weeks and that's why an escalation policy had to be put in place once again yesterday.

He says the HSE has failed to adapt the work load of the hospital as requested, but people also need to take responsibility in accessing the service as well.