BREAKING: Naas General Hospital imposes visiting restrictions

Naas General Hospital (NGH) has officially imposed visiting restrictions, due to 'high levels of COVID-19 and flu in the community.'

The announcement follows after NGH recently stressed that its emergency department has been experiencing a high level of attendance and admissions in recent days. 

Management at NGH had asked patients with non-emergency conditions to seek assistance from other parts of the health service, such as their local Pharmacist, Minor Injury Clinics, GP,  or the GP out-of-hours service. 

It also follows after the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) yesterday called for 'serious intervention' by the government to tackle overcrowding in hospitals across Ireland. 

In its latest statement, the hospital has said that there is strictly one visit per day from one person only and visits can be no longer than 30 minutes in length.

Visiting times from Monday to Sunday: are from 2pm to 4pm, and 6pm to 8pm (one per day, 30 mins max).

Management added that visitors to the hospital must:

• Check in with security 
• Wear a surgical face mask 
• Use hand gel 
• Keep social distancing 
• Not attend if you have any cold/flu/COVID symptoms 

NGH added that visiting the Moate ward is 'on a compassionate basis only, and staff will continue to liaise with individuals and families to accommodate this.'

For up-to-date guidelines on visiting patients at each hospital, please visit: https://www2.hse.ie/services/hospital-service-disruptions/hospital-service-disruptions-covid19.html

NGH's management concluded its latest statement by saying that it would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused, and thanked the public for their understanding and consideration.