Visiting suspended at two NI hospitals due to ‘unprecedented demand’

Around 240 COVID patients are being treated in Craigavon and Daisy Hill hospitals, a ‘record number’ said the Southern Trust.
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As the hospitals deal with ‘unprecedented demand’ this week, patients have been transferred to other hospitals in Belfast and Fermanagh.

On Sunday night the Trust issued an appeal for off duty staff to ‘work any hours you can’ as pressure mounted at Craigavon Hospital.

Staff answered the SOS and some patients were transferred to the South West Acute Hospital.

Craigavon Area HospitalCraigavon Area Hospital
Craigavon Area Hospital

On Tuesday another surge in patients meant transfers to the Nightingale Hospital in Belfast.

Then a spokesperson from the Southern Trust said it had a high number of COVID-19 positive patients who are primarily very dependent on oxygen therapy.

“Our hospitals have a limited infrastructure to manage high numbers of patients who need oxygen and there is a regional agreement in place that we share resources across Trusts to support COVID positive patients and some patients may be diverted to Belfast to help reduce pressure in the Southern Trust hospital system.

A Southern Trust spokesperson said: “The very significant recent increase in the number of cases of COVID-19 in our local community is placing unprecedented demand and pressure on hospital beds.

“There is now a record number of COVID inpatients in Southern Trust hospitals (approximately 240).

“Craigavon Area and Daisy Hill Hospitals were both extremely busy on Sunday but our staff responded superbly and we were able to open additional beds to support the high numbers of COVID-19 positive patients needing hospital care whilst continuing to meet the health care needs of non-COVID patients who required admission.

“All the Trusts are working very closely together to share resources and help each other to manage the flow of patients at peak times during this latest pandemic surge.

“The situation is currently very challenging and we expect this high level of demand for hospital care to increase over the next few weeks.

“Our staff, although exhausted, will once more go above and beyond to do the best they can for as many people as possible, and we really can’t thank them enough for it.

“Like other Trusts across Northern Ireland we are having to stand down all but the most urgent elective surgery to redeploy staff to meet the urgent and immediate needs of extremely ill patients, both COVID and non-COVID patients needing ICU and respiratory care.

“These postponed operations will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

“We are appealing to the public to work with us, follow the guidelines - stay at home, practise social distancing and good hand hygiene and wear face coverings.

“No-one should be attending an Emergency Department at any time unless they need emergency care.

Patients also need to leave hospital as soon as they are medically fit to leave as we will need every bed that we have for those that are most in need and we welcome family and carer support for this.

“Visiting on all Southern Trust sites and facilities was temporarily suspended from 6pm on Friday 11th September.

“Only end of life visits and birthing partners will be permitted. This is to protect visitors, patients and staff given the increased level of COVID-19 currently circulating in this area for more go to: https://southerntrust.hscni.net/about-us/visiting-information”

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