Visitor restrictions at University Hospital Kerry

HSE South West remind the public that visitor restrictions are in place at University Hospital Kerry as part of efforts to reduce the spread of influenza.

The restrictions include:

• One visitor per patient, per day, for a maximum of 15 minutes.
• Visitors must wear surgical masks and use hand sanitiser (provided at the entrance to the hospital)
• There is no visiting outside of visiting times (2pm to 4pm or 6pm to 8pm).

As always, the public are reminded not to visit if you feel in any way unwell – for example a temperature, runny nose, cough or any diarrhoea or vomiting.

These measures will be lifted as soon as possible when clinical circumstances allow. Certain compassionate exceptions will be made on case-by-case basis, by contacting ward staff in advance.

In the maternity ward, one birthing partner/visitor will be facilitated. This includes in the antenatal ward, delivery suite, postnatal ward and gynaecology ward. Children are not allowed to visit. Both parents will be facilitated on the neonatal ward.

Hospital Manager Mary Fitzgerald said:

“Unfortunately, flu rates in the community continue to increase and we need to continue visitor restrictions at UHK as part of our efforts to keep patients safe. We thank the public for their continuing co-operation and understanding, as we work together to keep patients and staff safe at the hospital.”

Ms Fitzgerald thanked the public for their help in stopping the spread of flu.

“It is not too late to get your flu vaccine. We continue to see patients hospitalised with influenza, and presenting at the emergency department. Our strong advice to those groups is to get vaccinated, even at this late stage, and get the protection they need.”