University Hospital Waterford says patients can expect delays as Covid takes its toll

People are once again being urged to contact their GP or CareDoc if possible before attending Waterford's Emergency Department.

The hospital has issued a statement this evening saying that the increasing number of Covid-positive patients presenting, coupled with the current staffing challenges, is putting significant pressure on them.

They say some patients will now experience delays in the ED.

As it stands, 150 staff there are absent due to Covid.

The statement in full reads as follows:

Statement –University Hospital Waterford – 4^th January, 2022.

The increasing number of COVID-19 positive patients presenting to the Emergency Department and being admitted to the hospital, together with the current staffing challenge, is putting significant pressure on the hospital and as a result it is regrettable that some patients may experience a delay in the ED. 

 Hospital Management has requested that, where appropriate, the public contact their GP/CareDoc in the first instance and explore all other options available to them prior to presenting to the Emergency Department.

 Patient care is paramount in UHW and patients requiring care will be seen and treated in accordance with their clinical needs.

ENDS

Meanwhile, the HSE is also urging hospitals to cancel all non-urgent care for the next two weeks.

Staff are being asked to redeploy to help relieve the pressure from Covid-19.

884 patients are in hospital with the virus nationally, an increase of 70% over the last week.

As of 8pm last night, UHW had 26 patients with the virus, one of whom was in ICU.

HSE Chief Executive, Paul Reid, says around 6,000 staff around the country are now off because of Covid:

"In a very short timeframe, I mean some hospitals went from 60 staff out sick with Covid, to about 240 in a two or three-day timeframe.

"So, all of that is putting the healthcare system under significant pressure.

"For the next 14 days, in terms of elective care, if it's non-urgent we will scale it down. We will also utilise private capacity to the greatest extent we possibly can."