Visitor restrictions in place at hospital as viral illnesses soar

"All" acute hospitals within the HSE Dublin and Midland region are experiencing a high number of patients with respiratory viral illnesses, such as Influenza, RSV and COVID-19, the HSE has just announced.

Hospitals affected are Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, Naas General Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital, Regional Hospital Mullingar and Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore.

As a result of the outbreak, visiting restrictions are in place at Mullingar General Hospital affecting all wards.

Restrictions

While there are visiting restrictions in place in all wards, the hospital says that visits on critical and compassionate grounds continue to be accommodated.

It explains that end of life and compassionate visits are coordinated at ward or department level with the Clinical Nurse Manager or Nurse in Charge of the unit.

Symptoms

Visiting arrangements outside of the above restrictions: do not visit the hospital if you have respiratory symptoms (high temperature, cough, shortness of breath, or loss or change to your sense of smell or taste).

Visiting hours are between 2.30pm to 4.30pm and 6.30pm to 8pm.

Patients can have 2 visitors at a time.

Visitors must remain within the bed space of the patient they are visiting and not interact with other visitors or patients during their visit.

Visitors must perform hand hygiene on arrival to the hospital, on entry to the ward, during the visit and when exiting the ward.

Visitors can wear masks (available on all wards).

Do not bring children under age 12, unless patients are critically ill or near the end of their life. Contact the hospital to arrange a visit.

Protect yourself and others

Lifted

The HSE has said these measures will be lifted as soon as possible when clinical circumstances allow.

Certain exceptions will be made by contacting ward staff in advance. For up-to-date guidelines on visiting patients, visit: https://www2.hse.ie/services/disruptions/

The HSE Dublin and Midlands REO Kate Killeen White, “Hospitals are implementing visiting restrictions. In some cases there is only visiting on compassionate grounds or visiting is limited to 1/2 person per patient during normal visiting times. We are asking people to only visit patients at the hospital or other health care residential setting, like nursing homes, if you are symptom free from flu or other respiratory illness. Please visit the HSE website for specific information and regular updates.

While hospitals are busy, staff are caring for many seriously ill patients all over the Christmas. We would ask patients with non-emergency conditions to seek assistance from other parts of the health service”.

She said, “there are a range of care pathways available to patients who do not need emergency care including visiting your pharmacy for advice on common minor illnesses. Find out more at www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/pharmacy/ It also advises that if you urgently need to see a GP outside of normal hours, contact the local GP Out of Hours service – https://www2.hse.ie/services/find-urgent-emergency-care/