A PARTY of four people, who all had tested positive for COVID-19, ten days ago, have been discharged from University Hospital Limerick.
The four tested negative for the virus and were discharged a few days ago, a reliable hospital source said.
A hospital source said the four patients who were being treated for the virus were no longer at the hospital.
The source said that 75 healthcare staff — who were self-isolating at home, after they were identified as contacts of one of the four patients — had all tested negative for the virus, in relation to the results of initial swabs taken from them.
The 75 staff are waiting on the results of second swabs.
The cancellation of almost all elective surgeries and outpatient appointments across all six sites of UL Hospitals Group, including University Hospital Limerick, University Maternity Hospital, St John’s, Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, Nenagh General, Ennis General, is extended to Wednesday, March 18.
Exceptions to an ongoing visitor ban at thr six hospitals (with a strict limit of one visitor per patient) include:
- Partners of women attending University Maternity Hospital Limerick
- Parents visiting children in hospital
- People visiting patients at end-of-life
- People assisting confused patients (e.g. dementia)
- People visiting patients in Critical Care
Colette Cowan, CEO of UL Hospitals Group, emphasised that time-critical procedures, including cancer surgery, would continue in the coming days.
Five theatres are open at UHL for emergency and trauma cases as well as time-critical elective surgery.
Exceptions to cancelled services and appointments, that will be going ahead at this time include:
- Dialysis (UHL)
- Cancer services (oncology and haematology day ward; haematology and oncology OPD clinics; medical oncology clinics; Ward 4B appointments) (UHL)
- Urgent Cardiology diagnostics – patients being contacted directly (UHL)
- OPAT (antibiotic therapy) (UHL)
- Radiology outpatients (UHL)
- Fracture Clinic (UHL)
- Paediatrics: oncology/radiology day case/diabetes education (UHL)
- Ante-natal clinic; colposcopy clinic; diabetes in pregnancy clinic; elective c-sections and induction of labour (UMHL)
- Warfarin Clinic (Ennis Hospital)
- Elective surgery for paediatric patients (Croom Orthopaedic Hospital)
- Radiology appointments (Nenagh Hospital)
- Warfarin Clinic (St John’s Hospital)
Drop-off and collection services are available at the six hospitals to assist patients loved ones getting them important personal items.
