Patients with upcoming appointments at Letterkenny University Hospital are being advised that they can travel outside their 5km limits to attend under Level Five restrictions.
Management at the hospital has said that appointments will go ahead as usual at the hospital from Thursday and all measures are being taken to ensure patient safety.
A spokesperson from Saolta said: “It is really important that patients turn up for their scheduled appointments. While we are due to move to Level 5 restrictions from midnight tonight Wednesday, patients are permitted to travel beyond 5km to attend medical appointments.
“We have worked hard to ensure that the hospital and clinics are safe for patients. We have separate entrances to the hospital to allow us manage patients attending the hospital for non-COVID 19 appointments while also managing patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
“Changes have been made to the waiting areas to enable social distancing and all staff and patients must wear face coverings/masks.”
Patients are being asked to follow instructions on their appointment letters to ensure they have less waiting time.
The spokesperson said: “It is important that patients arrive to their appointment on time and avoid coming early to their appointment. In the appointment letter patients are advised to telephone the clinic on arrival, just before their appointment time so we can ensure the numbers of patients waiting at any one time is kept to a minimum. It is also important that patients attend their appointment on their own where possible (children attending an outpatient appointment can be accompanied by one parent or carer), again to minimise the number of people waiting.”
Futhermore, any person who is showing symptoms of COVID-19 or has been in contact with a suspected or confirmed case is asked not to attend and to call ahead for advice:
“We are asking patients not to come to the hospital for their scheduled appointments if they are showing any symptoms or signs of COVID-19, to minimise spread of the virus. Patients should not come to the hospital if any member of their household is showing any potential symptoms or signs of COVID-19 or if they are a close contact with a confirmed case. If patients have any doubts, we advise that they call us in advance of their appointment to check. This is both for the patients’ protection and the protection of others.”
