Plea From MidWest ICU Consultant As Region’s Main Hospital Enters Surge Capacity

A MidWest Intensive Care Consultant is calling on the public to reduce social interactions to stop ‘unmitigated viral transmission’ of Covid-19 in the community.

It comes as the intensive care unit at the region’s main hospital has entered surge capacity due to the rising level of infection.

There are now 47 patients being treated for Covid at University Hospital Limerick, with 14 in ICU, up 1 on yesterday’s figure.

Nationally, 19 per cent of Covid hospitalisations are requiring ICU treatment – compared with around 10 per cent in January.

Head of the ICU at University Hospital Limerick, Dr. Catherine Motherway says while they’ll respond to the surge as it comes, staff on the frontline are tired.