LETTERKENNY University Hospital implemented its Covid-19 emergency escalation plan in recent days amid ongoing concerns over capacity in its Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Yesterday, there were 78 patients with Covid-19 in the hospital with six patients with Covid-19 in the ICU while two non-Covid patients also require critical care. There are normally 5 critical care beds in the hospital.
The emergency escalation plan was devised for, but not required, during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sean Murphy, Hospital Manager, told The Donegal News, “The hospital’s Covid escalation plan is being implemented in response to the increase in patient volume and demand for hospital care and resources including ICU beds, staff and equipment.”
On Friday, there were 158 staff unavailable for work in Letterkenny because they have the virus, are close contacts of a confirmed case, or are self-isolating.
Though Covid-19 infection rates are being reduced in the community, the strain on hospital resources, especially on critical care is a huge concern. The hospital did not clarify whether demands on resources had resulted in patients being transferred from LUH to other hospitals to receive care in recent days.
In the last week, a total of 19 adult patients have been transferred between hospitals across the country as part of the national surge plan currently in operation to manage demand for critical care.
“It is not appropriate to give any hospital breakdown as this could identify the patient,” a HSE spokeswoman said.
On Sunday there were nine general beds available at the hospital.
Mr Murphy said the number of patients with Covid-19 being cared for in the hospital remains high and this situation is likely to continue over the coming days.
Deaths
Meanwhile, a quarter of all Covid-19 deaths in Donegal since the onset of the pandemic occurred in January, new data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows. A total of 15 deaths due to coronavirus were recorded in Donegal in the week ending 22 January and eight the previous week. A total of 73 Covid related deaths had been reported in County Donegal up to January 8.
The latest figures for Donegal show there were a further 31 Covid-19 cases recorded up to midnight on January 30.
There has been a marked reduction in numbers in the county over the last two weeks. In the past 14 days there were 764 cases recorded in Donegal, compared to the first two weeks of January where there were over 2,000 cases recorded. The 14 day incidence rate in Donegal now stands at 479.9 per 100,000 population. The national average is 501 cases per 100,000 population.