Visiting has been suspended at several wards in Mullingar regional hospital due to overcrowding issues at the hospital.
Management has confirmed that the measure is a temporary one "in order to protect the safety of patients and staff and to "help reduce the spread of infection.".
There are some exceptions to the visiting bans - including no changes to the current Maternity Services and Maternity Ward visiting arrangements, parents visiting children in hospital, people visiting patients at end-of-life, specific nominated carer/family member assisting with care of confused patients and immediate family members visiting patients in ICU/CCU.
Where visiting is allowed, exemptions are limited to one person per patient only (except where wheelchair and other support for a relative visiting may be needed).
The hospital is appealing to members of the public to co-operate with these necessary visiting restrictions.
