The UL Hospitals Group has announced a further week of what it’s calling “significant” reductions in scheduled care at Limerick Regional and Ennis General Hospitals as a result of COVID-19.
The majority of elective procedures are being cancelled until next Friday as nearly 200 staff have tested positive or are deemed close contacts of positive cases.
Six wards at UHL are closed to admissions today as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak.
An outbreak has also been reported at Ennis General.
A total of 188 staff are now off work and self-isolating across the group as a result.
The outbreaks have forced cancellations to procedures since the start of this week, and hospital management say they have been left with no option but to take today’s course of action as a result of the number of staff impacted.
Patients whose procedure or appointment is affected by the cancellations are being contacted directly by the hospital, which says they will be accommodated at the earliest possible opportunity.
A number of services will continue, including emergency care, urgent outpatient appointments, many cancer services, dialysis and palliative care.
Last night, there were a nationwide high of 41 confirmed cases among patients at UHL, with five of those in intensive care.
