Portlaoise ICU packed with critically ill Covid-19 patients as numbers are pushing the situation to collapse #STAYHOME
Ventilated patients have had to be transferred in January
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Portlaoise hospital Frontline staff are battling harder than ever to save the lives of people with Covid-19 according to HSE figures which show that the intensive care service is at surge capacity while the Leinster Express understands that patients have had to be transferred out and while coping staff believe admissions are reaching a critical.
The HSE warned at that hospital ICU admissions could rise further due to the Christmas surge despite a falling incidence of the virus in the community. Evidence of this is confirmed on the latest figures from the Laois facility and its sister hospitals in Dublin and the midlands.
HEALTH Minister Stephen Donnelly is under pressure to explain why staff in a private hospital, which refused to sign a deal to give the HSE extras beds, are being vaccinated ahead of other public healthcare workers.
Staff in the Denis O’Brien-owned Beacon Hospital were vaccinated this week as the facility is to be used as a mass vaccination centre.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid expressed “concern” about the plan as the Beacon refused to sign up to the Government’s private hospital deal.
“It is, to be frank, at odds with the fact that we don’t have an agreement currently with the Beacon Hospital, a signed agreement in relation to the surge safety net agreement. That is a concern of mine,” Mr Reid said.
Portlaoise hospital has urged the people of Laois to stay home to help the frontline following confirmation that all staff have received the first dose of the P.