Visitor restrictions remain in place at University Hospital Waterford in order to help prevent the spread of flu.
The hospital has appealed to people to only attend if it's absolutely necessary.
People with flu-like symptoms are advised to phone their GPs, in the first instance, rather than presenting at UHW's Emergency Department.
Dr Paul Gallagher, representative for the South/South West Hospital Group, has this advice for visitors:
"I think people need to use a common sense approach here. If somebody is feeling unwell with symptoms of flu, by attending someone who is sick they're at risk of transmitting that flu to the person that they wish to see. If they can use a mobile phone to speak to the person in hospital that would be desirable. If there are extraordinary circumstances and they do need to see that individual, then they should make arrangements with the ward manager in the hospital."
Dr Gallagher says the flu can be treated at home:
“If you have the flu, the advice is to stay in bed and rest, take fluids and use over-the-counter remedies like paracetamol to ease symptoms. By going to the Emergency Department, you are potentially spreading the virus to people who may be in the at-risk groups i.e. sicker, immuno-compromised, elderly or frail people for whom exposure to flu could prove fatal. Only if you are in one of the at-risk categories, or you are an otherwise healthy person who is getting worse a week into a flu-like illness, should you seek medical advice from your GP”.
