Hospital visiting restrictions remain as total number of flu patients dips below 700

At Cork University Maternity Hospital, visiting is limited to between 7am and 11pm. It can only be the woman’s partner or nominated support person. Children are not allowed in clinical areas for now. Picture: iStock

The number of people in hospitals with the flu remains high at 692, but has dropped from last week’s high of 815.

Nonetheless, visiting restrictions continue in many hospitals including some maternity sites. 

Some 3,548 new cases were recorded last week, and 1,806 people went to hospital emergency departments with the flu. 

While the latter is still high, it has dropped from 1,893 the week before.

HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry cautioned cases could rise again as people socialise more over the holidays.

“Vaccination uptake remains important, particularly among at risk groups," Dr Henry said on Monday. 

"There is still time to get your flu vaccine, and I would encourage all those eligible to avail of it. The best time to get vaccinated is now,” he added.

Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill supported this, saying: “This is a bad flu, and I would encourage anybody that can get vaccinated please do get vaccinated.” 

She described how vaccine uptake is higher this year, adding that it is having an effect on numbers.

Hospitals, she said, are “managing very well” for now, but the flu season is not yet over. January could yet see another wave of infections, she added.

Better staffing supports

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has called for better staffing to support hospitals.

The minister acknowledged staffing gaps in places to Newstalk, saying: “There are a lot of vacancies that have been funded by the Government that haven’t been recruited to, and too many agency staff that haven’t been converted or given encouragement to move over to full-time staffing.”

Meanwhile, hospitals such as Cork University Hospital, University Hospital Kerry, and Bantry Hospital continue to limit visitor numbers because of the flu.

There were 20 patients on trolleys in Clonmel Hospital on Monday morning, according to the INMO.

Visiting hours there are now 6.30pm to 8.30pm with only two visitors per patient allowed.

At Cork University Maternity Hospital, visiting is limited to between 7am and 11pm. It can only be the woman’s partner or nominated support person. Children are not allowed in clinical areas for now.

The hospital said this is because “flu rates are currently highest among children under five and unvaccinated children".

Mothers who face long hospital stays can arrange time away from the ward to meet family.

Krysia Lynch, a maternity care advocate, raised concerns for women who have had a caesarean section and need supports in hospital.

“In the run-up to Christmas, our already high caesarean section and induction rates become even higher,” she said.

“The post-natal wards are absolutely packed. That means the ratio of babies and women to midwives is going to be at its poorest, because we have our wards absolutely packed.” 

She called for more funding and investment in maternity services, including better access to community care post-natally to reduce these risks for next winter.

“Many women would like to see their mother or their sister or their friend [in hospital], someone who brings a different perspective to them, especially if they’re having their first baby,” she said.