Visitors restricted at hospitals and nursing homes
HOSPITALS and nursing homes have put visiting restrictions in place nationwide, in order to reduce the spread of Covid-19/ coronavirus.
St Vincent’s Hospital, St Michael’s Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, St Columcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown, and Tallaght Hospital, as well as Wexford Hospital have all restricted visiting.
A Bray woman was turned away last Friday when she went to visit her ill father in respite in a facility in County Wicklow.
She was told she wasn’t allowed in and she couldn’t take her father out. ‘His immune system would be compromised due to serious illness and of course I understand that He and other patients need to be protected,’ she said. ‘But I do wish someone had let me know. It really frightened me just being turned away on the day. I feel sorry for him, it will be lonely without any visitors, but it’s the right thing to do.’
In a statement. St Vincent’s said that close family and friends of patients in critical care, vulnerable young adults, psychiatric patients, and those receiving end of life care, may be admitted.
Children are not permitted in the hospital. Visitors who have permission to enter the hospital should wash their hands thoroughly before arriving at the hospital, use the hand hygiene gels at the entrance to the hospital and throughout the hospital, cover the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and put used tissues into a bin, and wash their hands thoroughly before leaving the hospital.
Out patient appointments will continue as normal unless the hospital contacts patients.
‘Visitors will only be facilitated in exceptional circumstances and with prior agreement of the ward manager,’ said Tallaght Hospital in a statement.
Visiting will continue to be facilitated in the intensive and coronary care units. Parents visiting the children’s wards can attend as normal.
‘The hospital appreciates that visitors are an important part of a patient’s day, but in-patients with complex medical conditions are particularly vulnerable and we must reduce the risk of infection,’ they said in a statement.
In a statement, Nursing Homes Ireland said that no non-essential visiting, children or groups will be allowed.
All visitors are asked to contact prior to attending. Visitors should only seek to attend in urgent circumstances and the management will reserve the right to impose full restrictions where necessary.
‘Older people and people in nursing homes with pre-existing medical conditions are particularly vulnerable if they contact the virus,’ said NHI.
‘The virus presents an unprecedented situation for our nursing homes and the care provided within them. Nursing homes are imposing the visitor restrictions in the best interests of residents and staff.’
Anyone who feels that they are experiencing symtoms of coronavirus, including cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties and a high temperature, is asked not to visit hospital. They are asked to contact their GP by phone for medical advice.