Only “very urgent” inpatient, day surgery, diagnostic, and outpatient appointments are now taking place at Galway University Hospitals [UHG and Merlin Park] and Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe until further notice.
This is to ensure that the facilities have the necessary capacity to deal with suspected and confirmed Covid-19 cases, according to the Saolta University Health Care Group which runs the local public hospitals.
“A small number of urgent cancer and time critical procedures, appointments, or tests will proceed,” said a statement from the organisation. “Patients have been notified if their appointment or procedure has been cancelled.
“We would also ask those patients who are attending not to bring anyone with them unless it is absolutely necessary and children are not permitted to attend with patients. This situation continues to evolve and we will keep patients updated.”
Saolta said it regretted the impact that these deferrals will have on its patients but said this action was necessary to deal with the impact of the coronavirus.
Visiting restriction continue at all the hospitals in the Saolta Group. “We are again reminding the public not to visit any of our hospitals other than for end of life situations and other exceptional circumstances as agreed with the ward manager in advance of visiting.
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“To arrange a visit, families should telephone the hospital and request to speak to the relevant ward manager who will decide if a visit can be facilitated without compromising the welfare of the patients on the ward. It is particularly important that children do not visit patients in hospital.”
People who are permitted to visit the hospitals are requested not to do so if they have a fever or have experienced respiratory symptoms.
The health care group acknowledged that these precautionery measures are causing difficulty for many people. “We recognise that the visiting restrictions are very difficult for patients and their families, however, our priority must be to protect the patients in the hospital who are vulnerable to infection.
The spokesperson thanked the public for their co-operation and appealed to people to abide by the health guidelines which aim to halt the speed of the spread of the virus.
“We ask that members of the public help in the effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 by observing the visitor ban in our hospitals, by attending the emergency department at our hospitals only when necessary; by following relevant public health advice around hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, and social distancing; and taking simple precautions to protect themselves, their loved ones and the wider community.”
