Bed closures after bug outbreak and staffing shortages at Altnagelvin
Beds have been shut and procedures cancelled due to staff shortages and a bug outbreak at one of Northern Ireland’s leading hospitals.
The Western Health Trust says around 25 beds have been temporarily closed to admissions at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.
The closures include Ward 5 (Elective Orthopaedics) due to a rise in cases of vomiting and diarrhoea along with other beds across the hospital as a result of available nurse staffing levels and delays in patient discharges.
Routine, non-urgent procedures have been postponed as a result.
Increased infection prevention and control measures have now been put in place.
Dr Dermot Hughes Medical Director, “The Trust is reviewing the situation through its business continuity arrangements on a daily basis to ensure we maximise available bed capacity, and ensure the most urgent scheduled operations and treatments are done."
“The safety of our patients is a fundamental priority for the Trust and this temporary measure has been brought in to maintain a continuity of service and ensure patient safety.
“People should avoid visiting the hospital if they are feeling unwell, particularly if they have diarrhoea and/or vomiting. Those who are visiting are asked to thoroughly wash their hands before and after visiting. Visitors should visit only one patient whilst at the hospital, refrain from sitting on hospital beds and not move from ward to ward when visiting.”
And he added: “Due to the challenges all non-urgent routine procedures will be cancelled in the coming days. Trust staff will be in contact with those patients in due course to reschedule their appointments. The Trust apologises for any inconveniences caused to patients but wishes to reassure the public that these measures have been put in place to ensure patient safety and to manage our reduced hospital bed capacity in a planned way.