Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Oct 25, 2024 2:10:40 GMT
Covid-19 outbreak at Letterkenny hospital, ED busy - Published Oct 24, 2024
By Shane Ó Curraighín
An outbreak of Covid-19 has been reported at Letterkenny University Hospital and the emergency department is very busy with high numbers of people attending.
Monday saw one of the highest attendances recorded at LUH Emergency Department when 209 patients attended.
Yesterday, 155 people attended the ED and the hospital is seeing a similar high attendance today.
There are currently 38 patients in the ED with 16 patients waiting to be admitted.
All available beds in the hospital are in use.
Patients are facing long waiting times to be admitted from the ED to a bed on a ward.
Saolta said every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted, at the earliest opportunity.
Saolta added it is "committed to treating everyone who presents at the ED but we do so strictly in order of medical priority".
"The hospital acknowledges that these delays are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause," it added.
"We continue to request that people consider other options for non-emergency care such as Out of Hours GP and pharmacies before attending an ED."
Meanwhile, there are currently ten patients being treated for Covid-19 in one ward at the hospital.
When a ward is affected by Covid-19 visiting is limited and all visits must be pre-arranged by the nominated visitor who should contact the hospital unit in advance.
Saolta has asked people not to visit the hospital if they have any respiratory symptoms or have had contact with someone who has Covid-19.
By Shane Ó Curraighín
An outbreak of Covid-19 has been reported at Letterkenny University Hospital and the emergency department is very busy with high numbers of people attending.
Monday saw one of the highest attendances recorded at LUH Emergency Department when 209 patients attended.
Yesterday, 155 people attended the ED and the hospital is seeing a similar high attendance today.
There are currently 38 patients in the ED with 16 patients waiting to be admitted.
All available beds in the hospital are in use.
Patients are facing long waiting times to be admitted from the ED to a bed on a ward.
Saolta said every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted, at the earliest opportunity.
Saolta added it is "committed to treating everyone who presents at the ED but we do so strictly in order of medical priority".
"The hospital acknowledges that these delays are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause," it added.
"We continue to request that people consider other options for non-emergency care such as Out of Hours GP and pharmacies before attending an ED."
Meanwhile, there are currently ten patients being treated for Covid-19 in one ward at the hospital.
When a ward is affected by Covid-19 visiting is limited and all visits must be pre-arranged by the nominated visitor who should contact the hospital unit in advance.
Saolta has asked people not to visit the hospital if they have any respiratory symptoms or have had contact with someone who has Covid-19.