15/10/2008

Ennis Hospital Turns Away Visitors Over Bug

The Ennis General Hospital in Co Clare has banned visitors due to an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.

The hospital has confirmed a total of five cases of the illness and a ban has been placed on all visitors, except in the case of an emergency.

Last week, a similar ban was introduced at a nursing home in the west of the county after two suspected cases.

The news follows on the heels of troubles for a Drogheda Hospital which yesterday had to turn away patients due to overcrowding.

Management at the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital had taken the decision to refer A&E patients to nearby hospitals in Dundalk, Navan and Cavan.

Around 34 patients were left on trolleys in the hospital's A&E unit during the crisis, and management at the hospital said the measures had been taken in order to relieve pressure on the emergency department and in the interest of patient safety. However, other emergencies such as trauma, paediatrics as well as obstetrics and gynaecological cases continue to be admitted.

The hospital is the biggest in the north-east, and a new €11.35 million emergency Department is currently under construction at the site.

In other Health news, yesterday's Budget announced some challenging charges for using the Irish health service.

Attending accident and emergency departments will is to go up to €100 while private and semi-private bed charges in public hospitals are being increased by 20% to bring them closer to the economic value.

People will also have to pay up to €100 a month for their medicines before the State begins to reimburse them any additional costs under changes to the Drug Payment Scheme.

Mr Lenihan announced there will also be a targeted voluntary early retirement scheme to be introduced for the HSE.

See: Drogheda A&E Turns Patients Away

(DW)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

01 March 2016
INMO Data Reveals Over 500 Patients Waiting On Trolleys
Over 500 patients are either on trolleys in hospital emergency departments or on wards waiting for beds, according to new figures. Data collected by the Irish Nurses and Midwives' Organisation (INMO) revealed there are a total of 544 patients waiting.
14 October 2008
Drogheda A&E Turns Patients Away
A Drogheda Hospital is reportedly turning away patients due to overcrowding. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed that management at the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital had taken the decision to refer A&E patients to nearby hospitals in Dundalk, Navan and Cavan.
12 August 2011
Tallaght Patient Died On Hospital Trolley
A man died while on a hospital trolley awaiting a doctor. Today, a verdict of death due to natural causes has been recorded after an inquest into the death of a patient at Tallaght Hospital Emergency Department.
13 June 2013
Protection Of Life During Pregnancy Bill Published
The Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill has been published by the government following approval by the Cabinet. Several significant changes have been made to the outline of the Bill, which was published in April. The Minister for Health will be given the power to stop suspended an institution if deemed to be operating the Act inappropriately.
29 November 2017
ED Tallaght Hospital Nurses Continue To Face 'Serious Difficulties'
Nursing staff in the Emergency Department of Tallaght Hospital are continuing to face "serious difficulties", according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). The organisation confirmed Manageement raised ongoing staffing difficulties and overcrowding at a meeting with the INMO on the 22 November.