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Written by:
March 9, 2020

The Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG) has put visitor restrictions in place in all of its hospitals until further notice as a precautionary measure in order to protect the safety of patients/staff and to help prevent the spread of infection. We regret any distress or inconvenience these measures may cause to patients and their relatives.

IEHG hospitals include:  Wexford General Hospital; St Luke’s General Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny; Regional Hospital Mullingar; Our Lady’s Hospital Navan; National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh; National Maternity Hospital; Mater Misericordiae University Hospital; St Michael’s Hospital Dun Laoghaire; St Vincent’s University Hospital; St Columcille’s Hospital Loughlinstown and the Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital.

Children in particular should not visit patients in hospitals.

Exceptions to the ban:

·      Parents visiting children in hospital

·      Partner visiting a maternity patient in the maternity unit

·      People visiting patients at end-of-life

·      Specific nominated carer/family member assisting with care of confused patients (e.g. dementia)

·      Immediate family members visiting patients in ICU/CCU 

Exemptions are limited to one person per patient only (except where wheelchair and other support for a relative visiting may be needed)        

Please note that the ban on visitors also applies to patients attending the Emergency Department.

We are appealing to members of the public to co-operate with these necessary restrictions.

Patients can use their mobile phone to keep in contact with their families during their stay in hospital while the visiting  ban is in place.

We understand that visiting restrictions may be upsetting for patients and their families, however, our priority is to protect all patients in our hospitals who are vulnerable to infection.

We would like to thank members of the public for their co-operation.

Useful information:

For more information on COVID -19 please see HSE website link below or call the HSE Helpline 1850 241850.

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html

 All other services will continue to operate as normal.