Certain services at Loughlinstown hospital are stopped

Due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, the outpatient appointments have been cancelled at St Columcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown, Dublin.

The Health Service Executive said that patients have been notified and virtual clinics are continuing.

The hospital had said earlier that Medical Assessment Unit would close for two days from this evening. The patients who require care are being redirected to St Vincent’s Hospital at Elm Park or to St Michael’s Hospital in Dún Laoghaire.

The Medical Assessment Unit provides treatment to those who have been referred to the hospital by a GP with symptoms including chest infection, pneumonia, fever, deep vein thrombosis and urinary tract infection.

The statement said that 31 patients in the hospital have tested positive for Covid-19.Fifty-eight nursing staff are not available because they have the disease or are a close contact of a case.

Some staff are expected to return to work early next week. A total of 454 people are employed at St Columcille’s Hospital.

The Medical Assessment Unit is separate to the Injuries Unit which remains open to treat people with conditions including head injuries, broken bones, sprains and strains.

Dr Donal O’Shea said when an asymptomatic patient tests positive as the level of precautions taken would not be same as if they had the disease. He said that there are four wards in the hospital and one of them is exclusively for Covid-19.

There is a close contact ward, another ward is closed and the remaining ward is about to open.

Dr O’Shea said the hospital is hopeful it can restore services after the 48-hour closure of the Medical Assessment Unit as the number of patients who are positive has decreased slightly and the people who are testing positive are close contacts.

He said that St Columcille’s Hospital is 250 years old and the infrastructure makes infection prevention and control really challenging but the hospital has managed well. The outbreak is disappointing but underlines there can be no complacency, he added.