Visiting hours have been updated at University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital following a review, with visiting now permitted from 2pm to 3pm and from 6pm to 7pm daily.
Access to visitors is limited to one person per patient each day. Visits must be pre-arranged and visitors should contact the relevant ward or unit in advance.
Following new national guidance on visiting, visitors to all hospitals will be asked to produce their EU Digital Covid Certificate, HSE Covid-19 vaccination record, or other proof of immunity at the entrance. Visitors may be asked to show some photo ID to prove that the proof of immunity is theirs. There are separate arrangements in place for access to the maternity department for nominated support partners.
There are exemptions from the requirement for proof of vaccination or immunity on compassionate grounds.
Children may not visit the hospital unless agreed in advance, on compassionate grounds, with the ward/unit manager
Anyone coming to the hospital must complete a Covid-19 screening checklist and follow the public health guidance, including wearing a face mask and performing good hand hygiene regularly.
“We know how important it is for patients to have a visitor every day and we are trying to balance this need with the need to reduce the footfall in the hospital due to the current high number of Covid-19 cases in the community," said Chris Kane, hospital manager, Galway University Hospitals. "Any person who accesses a hospital may unintentionally introduce Covid-19, so we are trying to limit the number of people who access the hospitals as far as is reasonably practical.
“If you are a nominated support person [visitor] for a patient in the hospital, we ask that you do not visit the hospital if you have any symptoms of Covid-19, have been in contact with anyone with Covid-19, or are awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test," Ms Kane added.
"We are grateful to the public for their ongoing co-operation in ensuring we can facilitate visiting in a safe manner to protect both patients and visitors."
