Extra demand for care and resources at Letterkenny University Hospital have prompted the introduction of a COVID-19 escalation plan onsite.
The hospital is continuing to deal with pressures of high patient numbers, particularly critical patients, and staff shortages.
As of 8pm Sunday night, LUH staff were treating 78 patients with Covid-19. Six of those patients were recorded as critical and in ICU. Just one critical care bed was registered as available at the hospital, along with 17 general care beds.
The hospital faces demand for a critical mix of hospital care and resources including ICU beds, staff and equipment.
Last Friday, there were 158 staff unavailable for work due to COVID-19. This includes staff who have COVID-19, symptomatic staff, staff who are close contacts of a positive case, and staff who are cocooning because they are considered in an at-risk category.
The COVID-19 escalation plan is now being implemented to allow for the use of additional beds in ICU if required. In normal times, five critical care beds would have been in operation the hospital.
In addition, as part of this plan, the hospital has deferred all but very urgent and time critical inpatient and day surgery. Outpatient face to face clinics have also been curtailed, however some of these will take place virtually/by telephone unless it is absolutely necessary for patients to be seen.
Visiting restrictions remain in place at the hospital.
The public are reminded to only attend the Emergency Department in case of emergencies. Please contact your GP during normal surgery hours or the NoWDOC GP out of hours service if your health problem is not an emergency.
