THE number of healthcare staff sidelined by COVID-19 across one one of the hardest hit hospital groups – UL Hospitals Group – has decreased by 162 since last Wednesday, from 603 to 441, as staff within the group also started to receive second dose vaccinations.
“There are currently 441 staff across UL Hospitals Group unavailable for work due to Covid-19. This figure includes staff who have tested positive for Covid-19 either through the workplace or community transmission; those who are close contacts of positive cases and staff who are showing symptoms and who are staying off work in line with the public health guidance in respect of Covid-19,” a UL Hospitals Group spokesman said.
Staff treating 115 COVID patients at University Hospital Limerick, the largest hospital in the Group, are being offered “various supports, to maintain staff health and wellbeing at this difficult time”, the spokesman said.
“Our thoughts are with all of our staff who are currently unwell, and we are indebted to colleagues who are currently working extra hours or taking on new or additional roles to maintain essential services,” they added.
The Limerick hospital group confirmed that it has “started administering 2nd dose vaccines to our staff this week”.
Latest figures provided by the Group show that, as of January 25th, 3,780 healthcare workers across the Group had received their first dose of the Pfizer BioNtech vaccine including staff predominantly from Ennis Hospital, University Hospital Limerick and University Maternity Hospital Limerick but also some staff from Nenagh, Croom Orthopaedic and St John’s Hospitals.
“The overall figure also includes staff prioritised by HSE MidWest Community Healthcare, Public Health and the National Ambulance Service,” the spokesman said.
“In relation to Long Term Care Facilities, our staff commenced vaccinating residents and staff in these facilities on Saturday the 16th of January and to close of business on Wednesday, January 25th, some 1,239 vaccines had been delivered in those settings locally.”
“This is in addition to the ongoing work by colleagues in HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare to vaccinate nursing home residents and staff across the Mid-West.”
