More than 170 staff at Sligo University Hospital are unavailable to work because of Covid-19.
The hospital is now taking all the measures it can as it strives to deal with the challenging situation.
On Friday last, there are 172 Sligo University Hospital staff unavailable for work due to COVID-19.
This includes staff who have COVID-19, staff who has symptoms or who are close contacts of a positive case.
It also includes staff who are cocooning because they are considered in an at-risk category
At the same time as the hospital has fewer staff, it’s now being asked to deal with what has been described as ‘ a sudden increase in patient volume’ as well as increased demand for ICU beds, staff and equipment.
As part of its measures to deal with the situation, all but very urgent and time-critical inpatient and day surgery has been deferred.
Outpatient clinics have also been curtailed; however some of these will take place virtually unless it is absolutely necessary for patients to be seen.
The Saolta Hospital Group, of which Sligo is part, says the COVID-19 vaccination programme for staff started last Wednesday
By the end of last week more than 500 vaccines were administered.
The rollout of the vaccination programme continues this week
