Deferral of inpatient, day surgery and outpatient appointments at GUH

Galway University Hospitals (University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital) are deferring all but very urgent and time critical inpatient and day surgery from tomorrow January 5th. Outpatient clinics will also be cancelled however some of these will take place virtually unless it is absolutely necessary for patients to be seen. These measures are been taken to help the hospital manage the significant and sustained increase in the number of COVID-19 cases currently being treated in the hospital. In addition, the rising numbers in the community are likely to lead to further hospitalisations. The deferrals will be for a two week period initially and will be kept under review.

Commenting Chris Kane, Hospital Manager GUH said, “We regret the impact that these deferrals will have on our patients but it is a really important part of maintaining critical and emergency services. A small number of urgent cancer and time critical procedures will proceed. Patients will be notified directly if their appointment or procedure is being deferred.

“Over the last number of months the hospital has managed a number of outbreaks of COVID- 19 (an outbreak is defined as 2 or more cases), as many other hospitals have. Currently there are 3 wards in the hospital closed for new admissions due confirmed cases of COVID-19. We are also seeing a significant and sustained increase in the number of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 and as of 8pm yesterday evening, January 3rd there are 43 COVID-19 positive patients being treated in UHG.

“It is really important that patients who are attending UHG for a procedure continue to follow all the public health guidance including wearing a face mask. We also remind patients to attend the hospital alone, unless the support of another person is essential.

“Visiting restrictions remain in place at the hospital. Members of the public should not visit the hospital except on compassionate grounds and these visits should be arranged in advance with the nurse manager on the ward.

“Our Emergency Department continues to be very busy and we again remind that public that we encourage them to attend the Emergency Department only in the case of real emergencies. If your health problem is not an emergency you should contact your GP during normal surgery hours or the Westdoc GP out of hours service, in the first instance.

“Finally it is important to acknowledge, that the COVID-19 vaccination programme is continuing in UHG and 540 staff have now been vaccinated with clinics continuing throughout this week and beyond. This is really positive and we are working hard to get all our staff vaccinated as quickly as possible.”