(May 12th 2022) Tallaght University Hospital has announced an easing of visiting restrictions for vulnerable patients from Monday next, May 16th but would continue to ask the public to exercise caution as COVID-19 is still prevalent in our community.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic the Hospital have, where possible facilitated visits on compassionate grounds and have made every effort to keep families connected via virtual visits, the running of the patient care package service and sending love postal service.
Commenting on the return of visiting on a phased basis Director of Nursing & Integrated Care, Áine Lynch commented: “I appreciate that despite our best efforts to put arrangements in place the restriction on general visiting has been very difficult for both patients and their loved ones. These restrictions were put in place to keep everyone as safe as possible, we are very pleased to reintroduce limited visiting to the Hospital to support our more vulnerable patients. I hope the community can continue to support us and ensure they follow our visiting guidelines and prioritise visits for vulnerable family members only.”
Visiting to the Hospital is from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm. When visitors arrive at the Hospital they must check in with a member of the security team and clean their hands. As is the case in all healthcare settings they will be required to wear a mask throughout their time in the Hospital.
“As visiting returns and COVID is still with us, being mindful of hand hygiene as you visit a loved one in hospital has never been more important. Clean your hands as you enter the Hospital, the ward / room your loved one is and repeat the process as you leave. Infections can come from any source and the last thing you want to leave your loved one with is a new infection that you bring into the Hospital with you. If you have any cold / flu / COVID symptoms or vomiting or diarrhoea postpone the visit. This is in the best interest of the health of your loved one, all other patients and the staff caring for them” commented Dr. Anna Rose Prior, Consultant Microbiologist at TUH.
Chair of the Patient Community Advisory Council, Declan Daly commented: “I am delighted that the Hospital are opening back up to visitors but I would ask people to remember that visits can be tiring. Remember, it is the fact that you visited not how long you stayed. As someone is recovering from illness they need their rest, sometimes a visit when they return home would be more beneficial to the person. We also need to be mindful that visiting brings with it a responsibility for the health of your loved one and the staff caring for them.”
Access for visitors will be limited as appropriate to manage heavy footfall in the Hospital and in the ward/unit/multi-bed room. Please schedule your visits with family to reduce the number of people by a bedside at any one time multiple visits to the same person will not be permitted and children are not permitted unless in exceptional circumstance and with prior agreement with the clinical nurse manager on the ward.
You will need to stay in the room or to the bed space of the person that you have come to see. Please avoid interaction with anyone other than that person and the staff with whom you need to talk to.
Please note, only one visitor is permitted per patient at any one time, unless that visitor needs assistance. Also remember to use visitor toilets rather than patient toilets in order to reduce the risk of cross infection.
Visiting is not permitted during mealtimes. This protected time is set aside in order to ensure that patients can eat and enjoy their meals uninterrupted. This is an essential requirement for good nutrition and recovery. The Hospital asks that visitors respect these arrangements.
