‘Challenges’ for TUH as Covid-19 patient numbers reach peak levels
By Mary Dennehy
THE number of Covid-19 patients being cared for at Tallaght University Hospital was this week at its highest level since the pandemic began.
According to information provided by the hospital to The Echo, 123 Covid-19 patients were being cared for this week – the highest number at any one time in the past 10 months.
Tallaght University Hospital
Lucy Nugent, CEO of Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), said: “This week has been like no other with numbers reaching a peak for the hospital of 123 Covid-19 patients requiring inpatient care, this is the highest number of patients we have cared for at one time during this pandemic.
“This is in addition to patients presenting with non Covid illness that needs hospital admission.
“This has presented many challenges across the hospital.
“We continue to work hard together as a team to treat the patients and care for one another during this ongoing pandemic.
Lucy Nugent, TUH CEO
“The prevalence of the virus remains extremely high in our community and this is bringing the virus into our workplace.”
Ms Nugent said that “regretfully” this week, TUH had to postpone all outpatient appointments except for those that were most urgent.
“This was in order to reduce footfall into the Hospital, redeploy staff and enable our medical staff to care for patients on the wards”, Ms Nugent told The Echo.
“We will reschedule these appointments as soon as possible.
“On a positive note the hospital’s Covid-19 Vaccination clinic was able to restart on Sunday last with the administration of the second dose of the vaccine now being administered to the staff who received the first vaccine three weeks ago.
“As my colleague Professor Brendan Kelly says ‘Our behaviour is our greatest defence’ so I am asking for your ongoing support in this regard.
“Again, we would like to thank the community for their continued support and remind everyone to stay at home, continue to follow basic hand hygiene, face mask etiquette and wherever possible keeping our distance from one another.”
For further details on TUH visit the hospital’s website HERE or on Facebook HERE
For up-to-date information on Covid-19 and guidelines visit HSE’s website HERE or Gov.ie HERE.
Anybody who needs help in accessing information or connecting with local supports can call South Dublin County Council’s Community Call helpline on 1800 240 519.
The free helpline is open from 9am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, and is open to anybody living across South Dublin County in need of practical support or someone to talk to.
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