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Cork University Hospital closed a ward as more than 100 nurses contracted the coronavirus and only four workers were available to work on it.
Ward closure occurs when hospitals are under great pressure due to the massive increase in cases.
CUH is also out of ICU beds (as of 6.30pm Saturday) and this morning they also warned people that there will be long delays at the emergency department in the coming days.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Association said the situation is similar in hospitals across the country and that Secretary General Phil Ni Sheaghdha called the situation “deeply disturbing”.
He said: “The progress we made in keeping case numbers low appears to be completely undone.
“COVID is creating more patients while draining staff. It is a vicious combination. Staff are much more experienced than they had at the start of this pandemic, but the sheer numbers are difficult to cope with.
“Frontline staff are running three services in parallel: a COVID health service, a non-COVID health service, and a mass vaccination plan. This can only work if the pressure on our hospitals is relieved.
“On behalf of the Irish nurses and midwives, INMO asks that the public stay home and strictly follow public health advice. The vaccine is being implemented, we simply need to reduce the cases.
“We need all hands to work here. The government and HSE should focus on supporting exhausted frontline healthcare workers. This means acquiring additional capacity in the private sector and ensuring that the childcare needs of frontline workers are taken into account. “
CUH hospital administration has requested that the public, where appropriate, contact their GP / South Doc in the first instance and explore all other available options before going to the Emergency Department if their needs are not urgent.
General Practitioner / South Doc
Mercy Urgent Care Center, St. Mary’s Health Campus, Gurranabraher, Cork – Opening hours. 8:00 am to 6:00 pm – Telephone – 021-4926900
Local Injury Unit Hospital General de Bantry – Opening hours. 8:00 am to 7:30 pm – Telephone 027 50133
Local Injury Unit, Mallow: General Hospital – Opening hours. 8:00 am to 7:00 pm – Telephone 022 – 58506.
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