Very little vaccine available for additional frontline staff
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The Saolta University Health Care Group which runs Sligo University Hospital (SUH) has been advised by the HSE that there is “very little vaccine available to give a first dose to additional frontline healthcare workers outside of residential care facilities until February”.
The Saolta Group run six hospitals across the West and North West of Ireland, providing acute and specialist hospital services.
Last week the vaccination programme for frontline workers at SUH came under scrutiny after Sinn Féin Justice spokesman and TD for Sligo/Leitrim, Martin Kenny raised concerns about the administration of the vaccine at the hospital.
Face to face outpatient clinics remain curtailed at Sligo University Hospital
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In early January all but very urgent and time critical inpatient and day surgery was curtailed in Sligo University Hospital. In light of very significant pressure in the hospital caused by COVID-19 and high community infection rates, it is now necessary to continue the current restrictions to ensure patient safety and wellbeing. The deferrals are in place for a further two week period and will be kept under review.
Outpatient clinic restrictions continue to be in place, however, some clinics will take place virtually unless it is absolutely necessary for patients to be seen.
Clinical Nurse Manager of Sonas Ard Na Greine Nursing Home in Enniscrone, Christine Cronin, has said there is hope in the air for residents and staff thanks to the Covid-19 vaccination.
The 42 residents of the nursing home will be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus later this month, and Ms Cronin says there is a mixture of relief, and hope that there might be some return to normality soon.
Thanks to the incredible efforts of staff, both while at work and in their private lives, the nursing home has remained Covid-19 free throughout the pandemic. Staff have taken measures in their own private lives minding their own families and people in here. Protocols have kept the nursing home Covid free, hopefully that will keep happening over the next few weeks, said Ms Cronin.
Over two-hundred-and-sixty staff at hospitals in the Shannonside region were out of work earlier this month on Covid related leave. According to figures released by the Saolta Hospital Group to Aontu, on the 13th of January – 172 staff were absent due to Covid at Sligo University Hospital – 55 at Portiuncula hospital and 38 […]
The HSE is being called on to restore ophthalmology services in Leitrim when the new primary care centre in Carrick-on-Shannon this year. People who require specialist eye care are currently being treated in Sligo-University Hospital but the service was previously provided in Leitrim’s county town. Councillor Sean McGown recently asked the HSE if it would […]