Strictly no visitors allowed in Cavan and Monaghan hospitals

Further restrictions, including strict visiting restrictions, are being imposed at Cavan and Monaghan hospitals to prevent the spread of Coronavirus - some patients in the hospital have tested positive for the virus.
A strict no visiting policy is now in place at both hospitals except for exceptional circumstances.                                                                                                          
These include: Visitors requesting access for critically ill/ palliative patients or the Special Care Baby Unit should contact the ward manager directly prior to attending the hospital.                                                             
Paediatric patients should be accompanied by one parent/guardian only.                                                                                                                                                                                                    

There are strictly no children allowed.
Maternity services remain fully operational with some minor adjustments to location of antenatal appointments. Patients attending antenatal appointments should be unaccompanied.
For women giving birth or in labour, one named nominated companion may attend.         
All pregnant women are urged to contact the department should they have any concerns regarding their pregnancies. Please telephone ahead.

Meanwhile, the general manager of the Cavan and Monaghan Hospital Group confirmed to The Anglo-Celt that Cavan General is treating patents who have tested positive for the virus.
David Lynch refused to be drawn on numbers – though the latest official figures released yesterday evening (Tuesday) quote 36 confirmed cases in Co Cavan and 13 in Monaghan out of a total of 3,447 nationwide. Only a small percentage of cases, however, require hospitalisation.
“I will confirm that there are patients with the virus [in the hospital]. That number will go up and down,” said Mr Lynch. 
“Our intensive care unit is getting busier. There are patients in one specific [COVID-19] ward, which we are managing as well,” he added.
Strict visiting restrictions are in place at the hospitals and Mr Lynch reports the measures are helping.
He paid tribute to the entire hospital staff, including those in administration, catering and cleaning for their “phenomenal” efforts.
“I am very grateful to every one of them that come into work and take care of the patients. I am proud to say I am working with these people,” he said.
“All of our front line workers are putting themselves in the eye of the storm. The staff out in the community are also enabling us – in social care, care of the elderly and mental health. This is an over-arching effort by everybody,” said Mr Lynch.
He also said that he is overwhelmed by the public support for the hospitals, particularly in relation to donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The hospital group issued a statement yesterday evening thanking patients and staff for their continued support to date in adhering to the Government's guidelines and restrictions.
In it, Mr Lynch is also reminding the public that Monaghan hospital does not perform testing for COVID-19. 
“If you are coming to the Emergency Department (ED) you will notice a number of changes, patients will be spoken to outside of the ED before entering the department. Please be aware that this is for the protection of all our vulnerable patients to keep them as safe as we can,” he explained.
Should you need to attend the hospital, please have the following readily available.
- Up-to-date medications and known allergies
- Up-to-date address and contact numbers
- Up-to-date next of kin details
- Mobile phone should you need to contact family. There is no Wi-Fi available in Cavan General Hospital.

Mr Lynch says: “Having this readily available will help get patients to beds quicker.”
There will be no canteen services available to the public during this time but vending machines are available in designated areas.

Care packages
The hospital is also providing a 'Patient Care Package'. This service can be used if you would like to deliver urgent items to someone you know within the hospital. Please ensure you label the package with the patient name, date of birth and ward location. Please do not place valuables or perishables in the packages.
The package can be dropped into the collection box inside the main hospital doors from 2-4pm only.