Visiting restrictions have been imposed on two wards at Letterkenny General Hospital as a result of a suspected outbreak of the Winter Vomiting Bug.
In a statement, the hospital says there’s been an increased incidence of diarrhoea or vomiting on the Surgical 1 and Medical 3 Wards.
To help curtail the spread of this, the hospital is curtailing visiting in these two wards from today.
Management is also asking people not to come to visit anyone in the hospital if you they currently have diarrhoea or vomiting or if they or anyone in their household have had such symptoms in the last two days. People are also asked not to bring children to visit the hospital unless absolutely necessary.
The statement says all appropriate infection control measures are being taken to deal with the situation at the hospital at the moment and the visiting restrictions will remain in place until the wards are free from the outbreak.
The HSE statement concludes with a checklist for people intending to visit the hospital.
General advice for visitors:
- People who are unwell or have vomiting or diarrhoea, or have had vomiting or diarrhoea in the last two days, should not visit the hospital.
- Children should not be brought to the hospital.
- Visitors will not be allowed to visit Medical 3 or Surgical 1 wards unless there is an exceptional need; this will have to be agreed with the Clinical Nurse Manager.
- Only essential visits should be made to the other wards in the hospital and should be confined to one person at a time.
- Visitors should refrain from moving from one section of the hospital to another and should avoid canteens and any other food dispensing areas.
- Visitors should wash their hands thoroughly before entering or leaving the inpatient area, or after a visit to the toilet.
- Those with a serious illness should not visit the hospital, as they may be more likely to get sick if they come in contact with the virus.
- People who have symptoms such as ‘upset tummy’ should not attend the hospital but contact their GP in the first instance if they have serious concerns.
Letterkenny General Hospital wishes to thank patients and the public for their cooperation and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
