Day services for elderly cancelled and visiting restrictions in place

All day services and day hospitals in this region, catering for elderly people or those with disabilities, have been closed with immediate effect. 
In a statement covering Community Healthcare Organisation Area 1  - which covers counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo - the HSE said that it was an important step to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
A HSE spokesperson explained that the risks associated with numbers of people mixing together, non-compliance with social distancing, and transporting of people in small confined space (mini buses) the following restrictions have been put in place to protect residents, service users and staff: 

• Closure all day services / day hospitals for both Older Peoples  and Disability services within  with immediate effect;
• All services users/family members have been contacted and provided with a named contact person who will respond to any queries arising;
• Daily contact will be made with people at risk by day service personnel;
• Visiting Restrctions in place in Older Persons Nursing Units across the CHO 1 area;
• No visiting is permitted in Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Cavan or Monaghan Community Hospitals/Nursing Units;
• Please contact the Nurse Manager of the unit if you have any concerns;
• Vising Restrictions in place in all Communty Group Homes (Residential Centres) for persons with a Disability across the CHO 1 area.

 

Challenging

“We recognise that these closures and visiting restrictions may be challenging for patients and their families, however, our priority must be to protect the service users, residents and staff in our Disability Services and Older Persons Services who are vulnerable to infection," said Chief Officer CHO 1 Mr John Hayes.

"We would like to thank members of the public for their co-operation.  We are very conscious that as the entire health service prepares to meet the challenges ahead, there will unfortunately be an impact on people using our services. We will do everything we can to keep that impact to a minimum.”

Concerns
Anyone with general concerns should firstly visit HSE.ie/coronavirus. If you still have concerns, you can ring HSE Live on 1850 24 1850
Anyone with symptoms should not show up at their GP/ GP Out of Hours Service or ED unannounced. Symptoms of coronavirus  are a cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, fever (high temperature). If you develop symptoms you will need to self-isolate and phone your GP. The people in your household need to restrict their movements.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. The GP will assess you over the phone. If they think you need to be tested for coronavirus, they will arrange a test.