In advance of a busy weekend in Letterkenny University Hospital, all visitors are asked to be extra vigilant for signs and symptoms of Norovirus (winter vomiting bug).
The hospital is advising people not to visit a patient in the hospital if they are unwell, if they have had diarrhoea and or vomiting.
“You should postpone the visit until at least 48 hours after your symptoms have cleared,” a hospital spokesperson said.
Norovirus is circulating widely in the community and the hospital is treating a number of patients with norovirus in multiple wards.
In addition to these pressures, LUH is preparing for expected high attendances to ED over the weekend and into St Patrick’s Day Bank Holiday on Tuesday.
“In order to control the spread of infection, there may be visiting restrictions in place on outbreak wards. If a ward is managing an outbreak visiting will be restricted to compassionate grounds only and with prior arrangement with the ward manager.
“If you must visit a patient in the hospital please cooperate with hospital staff who are ensuring infection control measures are adhered to. Visitors should use the alcohol hand gels supplied as they enter and leave the hospital.”
Minimise your risk of catching an infection by ensuring the following:
- If you have any symptoms (diarrhoea/vomiting), you should not come to visit until all symptoms are fully resolved for at least 48 hours;
- Clean your hands with soap and water after using toilet or visibly soiled hands;
- Please do not use patient toilets on the wards or en-suites; visitor toilets are available at ground floor level.
These measures are vital to avoid spreading the virus to patients, visitors and staff and the hospital would like to thank the public for their co-operation at this time.
