A Covid-19 outbreak coupled with high emergency department attendances is putting increased pressure on bed capacity at the west’s biggest hospital.
Chris Kane, the manager of University Hospital Galway, says 28 patients with the virus are being treated at the facility and five wards are impacted by the outbreak. The hospital’s emergency department is experiencing very high attendances, also.
There were 40 patients on trolleys awaiting admission to inpatient beds at 8am on Tuesday, according to the Saolta University Health Care Group which runs the public hospitals in the west and north-west of the country. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation which compiles daily “trolley watch” figures says there were an additional nine patients awaiting beds on the day but were being accommodated meanwhile in wards elsewhere. A total of 47 patients were waiting to be admitted to UHG yesterday (Wednesday ). Thirty-five were on trolleys while 12 were in wards awaiting beds.
There were 16 patients waiting to be admitted to Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe on Tuesday, six were on trolleys and 10 were waiting in wards. Twenty-one patients were awaiting beds on Wednesday, fifteen of these were on trolleys in the ED and six were being accommodated in wards in other areas.
Chris Kane says the high number of people attending UHG who need to be admitted for ongoing treatment means that there is pressure on bed availability. Visiting restrictions are in place in the parts of the hospital impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak.
“University Hospital Galway is facilitating patient visiting in all areas of the hospital not affected by the outbreak in line with national guidance. However, visitors are being asked to be mindful of patient and staff safety,” she says.
“Particularly coming into a busy bank holiday weekend we are urging the public not to visit the hospital if you are feeling unwell. If you have symptoms like a sore throat, cough, temperature, or shortness of breath please do not visit the hospital to help keep vulnerable patients safe.”
She says the hospital is preparing for a busy weekend. “In UHG, Covid-19 outbreaks and high ED attendances are putting additional pressure on our bed capacity, for that reason we are asking our local community to be mindful of the safety of our patients and staff, please do not visit the hospital if you are feeling unwell.”
