This article is from page 3 of the 2013-01-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
THE number of patients waiting on trolleys at Ennis General Hospital had fallen back to just one yesterday (Monday) following pressure on staff and facilities over the Christmas period.
Just last Thursday as many as 11 people were waiting on trolleys at the County Clare hospital, according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
However as children returned to school yesterday and most people were back at work, life returned to “normal” at the hospital.
Meanwhile a blanket ban has been imposed on visitors to the area’s biggest hospital – The Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick – as a result of the winter vomiting bug (Noroviro).
Visiting to all wards at the hospital is prohibited with the exception of critically ill patients, but visitors must first contact nursing staff before they visit critically ill patients.
Parents and guardians only are permitted in the Children’s Ark and children should be kept away from all areas of the hospital.
“The hospital regrets this inconvenience but it is necessary at this time to prevent the spread of these illnesses to both patients and staff. Where appropriate, mobile phone contact between families should be considered as an alternative to visiting,” a spokesperson.
The hospital is also asking the public that only genuine emergencies should present at the Emergency Department (ED) and that where possible people should consult their GP before coming to the ED.
The vomiting bug is highly contagious and is in the community in County Clare as well as Limerick.
Norovirus does not usually cause serious illness, but it is very easily spread. People who contract it can be infectious for 48 hours after they recover.
The principal symptoms are nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and generally begin very suddenly with nausea followed by projectile vomiting.
While there is a ban on visiting in Limerick, people can still visit patients in Ennis General Hospital during visiting hours.