Irish hospital cancels elective surgeries and closes operating rooms to deal with ‘inevitable’ increase in Covid patients

A major Irish hospital canceled elective surgeries and closed operating rooms as it prepares for an “inevitable surge” in Covid patients.

Tallaght University Hospital has closed several theaters in recent weeks to make room for intensive care beds.

It comes as Professor Sam McConkey, an infectious disease expert, said that a significant number of the 3,500 people who contracted the virus in the past two weeks may require hospital treatment.

He said: “Of the 3,500 cases in the last 14 days, the vast majority were younger people.

“About 346 of the 3,500 were over 65 years old, that is, about 10%.”

He added that with 20% of older people becoming infected and requiring hospital treatment, it could mean that up to 70 patients could be admitted to health facilities that are already feeling the strain and near capacity.

Dublin continues to account for the vast majority of cases in the country.

Several hospitals in the capital are now listed as without critical care capacity, reports the Sunday Independent.

St James’s is currently at capacity, as is Mater, which has the highest proportion of COVID-19 patients in the country.

It is feared that an increase in coronavirus cases, combined with the winter flu season, could overwhelm hospital services that are already struggling.

But Mater’s infectious disease consultant Jack Lambert said health care services are “much more prepared” for a flood of admissions than they were in March and April.

The HSE has promised to increase the number of acute hospital beds from 409 to 892 as part of its recently released winter plan.

But the plan has been criticized by the Irish Medical Organization and the Irish Association for Hospital Consultations for a lack of detail and clarity.

Part of the operating room at Tallaght is now used as an ICU unit for coronavirus-free patients while approval is awaited for another 12 intensive care beds.

The hospital said: “The hospital would like to assure the community that we have adapted our services to meet the challenges of balancing normal activity with the increase in the number of COVID.”