Galway’s public hospitals defer surgeries and appointments

Galway’s three public hospitals have deferred “all but very urgent” surgeries and outpatient appointments until further notice.

The Saolta Hospital Group – which controls University Hospital Galway, Merlin Park and Portiuncula – said that all but very urgent inpatient, day surgery, diagnostic tests and outpatient appointments from today in order to ensure the hospitals have the necessary capacity to deal with any increase in suspected and confirmed Covid-19 cases.

A spokesperson said: “A small number of urgent cancer and time critical procedures, appointments or tests will proceed. Patients have been notified if their appointment or procedure has been cancelled. We would also ask those patients who are attending not to bring anyone with them unless it is absolutely necessary and children are not permitted to attend with patients. This situation continues to evolve and we will keep patients updated.

“We regret the impact that these deferrals will have on our patients but they are necessary in order to deal with the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“We are again reminding the public not to visit any of our hospitals other than end of life situations and other exceptional circumstances as agreed with the ward manager in advance of visiting. To arrange a visit, families should telephone the hospital and request to speak to the relevant ward manager who will decide if a visit can be facilitated without compromising the welfare of the patients on the ward. It is particularly important that children do not visit patients in hospital.

“We would ask those permitted visitors not to come to any of our hospitals if they have a fever or have experienced respiratory symptoms.

“We recognise that the visiting restrictions are very difficult for patients and their families, however, our priority must be to protect the patients in the hospital who are vulnerable to infection. We would like to thank members of the public for their co-operation,” the spokesperson said.