Significant numbers of healthcare workers have been returning to work from absences associated with Covid-19.

Steady resumption of care at mid-west hospitals

Scheduled hospital services, including surgery, endoscopy and outpatient appointments, are being gradually introduced across the sites of UL Hospitals Group as the rate of community transmission of Covid-19 continues to decline from its mid-January peak.

Significant numbers of healthcare workers have been returning to work from absences associated with Covid-19, enabling the Group to begin a phased return of services, at a slow and steady pace, in University Hospital Limerick (UHL), Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s, and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital.

UL Hospitals Group is committed to ensuring that all patients whose appointments were deferred during the New Year surge in Covid-19 will be rescheduled as soon as possible. Time-critical cases remain prioritised, and the hospital is directly contacting patients about their new appointments as soon as these are timetabled.

Theatre lists have resumed across UHL, St John’s, Ennis, Nenagh and Croom Orthopaedic Hospitals. Outpatient departments in the hospitals are also working towards full resumption, in line with the redeployment of any staff transferred elsewhere in the group during the Covid-19 surge.

As of, Friday January 21, 264 WTE healthcare workers were absent from work across our six hospital sites for reasons connected with Covid-19. This accounts for approximately 5% of the Group’s WTE staff total, and includes Covid-positive cases as well as staff who are close contacts, those who are symptomatic and staying at home in line with public health guidance, staff who are awaiting the results of Covid-19 tests, and workers who are vulnerable to Covid-19 and must remain off-site for their own safety.