Mullingar Hospital reintroduces visiting ban in bid to control Covid
Mullingar Regional Hospital announced that it is suspending visits to wards with effect from today (Tuesday) until further notice.
A statement from the hospital indicated that the ban on visiting was being reintroduced to "protect the safety of patients and staff" and to "reduce the spread of infection".
There will be some exemptions to visiting restrictions, such as for parents visiting children in hospital or people visiting a patient at the end of their life.
The hospital also said there would be no changes to the current visiting arrangements for those attending for maternity services.
Our sister paper the Westmeath Independent understands that a cluster of new Covid infections was detected at the hospital within the last week. According to the HSE, 19 people with the virus were being treated at the hospital as of 8pm yesterday (Sunday).
Last evening's statement on behalf of the hospital said:
"Regional Hospital Mullingar have suspended visiting to wards with effect from Tuesday, October 12, 2021, until further notice. This is a precautionary measure in order to protect the safety of patients and staff. It will also help reduce the spread of infection.
"Hospital Management at Regional Hospital Mullingar regret any distress or inconvenience these measures will cause to patients and their relatives. The following are groups except from the new measures:
- No changes to the current Maternity Services and Maternity Ward visiting arrangements;
- Parents visiting children in hospital;
- People visiting patients at end-of-life;
- Specific nominated carer/family member assisting with care of confused patients (e.g. dementia);
- Immediate family members visiting patients in ICU/CCU.
Where visiting is allowed, exemptions are limited to one person per patient only (except where wheelchair and other support for a relative visiting may be needed).
We are appealing to members of the public to co-operate with these necessary visiting restrictions.
Hospital Management would like to thank members of the public for their co-operation with these arrangements," the statement concluded.