- COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
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Visiting Information
For latest Visiting Guidelines visit our COVID19 Visiting Guidance page.
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Staff Absence Figures
Given the significance of staff absence in relation to the impact on our services over the next 4-6 weeks, we will publish staff absence figures on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Please note that the COVID-19 absence figures change not just on a daily but hourly basis due to the high levels of community transmission and the associated contact tracing requirements.
Tuesday 11 January Friday 14 January Tuesday 18 January Friday 21 January Tuesday 1st February Friday 4th February Friday 11th February Friday 18th February Friday 25th February Friday 4th March Friday 11th March Friday 18th March Friday 25th March Friday 1st April Friday 8th April Friday 15th April Friday 22nd April Friday 29th April Friday 6th May Friday 13th May Friday 20th May Friday 27th May The number of staff employed by the Western Trust 11,488 11,488 11,488 11,488 11,557 11,557 11,557 11,557 11,447 11,557 11,519 11,519 11,519 11,519 11, 565 11,565 11,565 11,565 11,565 11,565 11,494 11,494 The number of staff absent due to COVID (Those who are sick/those who are self isolating) 854 - of which 164 are self isolating 698 - of which 125 are self isolating 587 - of which 125 are self isolating 456 - of which 91 are self isolating 384 - of which 61 are self isolating 391 - of which 65 are self isolating 476 - of which 75 are self isolating 433 - of which 75 are self isolating 485 - of which 57 are self isolating 496 - of which 61 are self isolating 493 - of which 61 are self isolating 483 - of which 85 are self isolating 584 - of which 70 are self isolating 528 - of which 65 are self isolating 390 - of which 52 are self isolating 319 - of which 51 are self isolating 281 - of which 46 are self isolating 214 - of which 26 are self isolating 160 - of which 26 are self isolating 133 - of which 21 are self isolating 134 - of which 21 are self isolating 136 - of which 21 are self isolating The number of staff absent due to non-COVID sickness 469 479 778 778 522 522 531 531 763 568 543 744 644 553 507 746 722 579 518 701 720 600 -
Travel Advice and Guidance for Patients
The Trust is asking members of the public to please follow the NIDirect government website for the latest guidance on inbound travel into Northern Ireland Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel advice | nidirect particularly where an individual has or is planning to attend an appointment at a healthcare facility. This request has increased importance due to the recent emergence of a new Omicron variant of COVID19.
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Community Planning and Information
Click here to visit the Community Planning and Information Page.
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Changes to Services
Click here information on changes to our services
The Western Trust alongside all Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland, is facing unprecedented pressures due to the escalating rate of infection of COVID-19 and the subsequent increasing numbers of COVID-19 positive patients in our Hospitals.
The Trust is already at a peak in terms of COVID-19 patient numbers and projections are indicating that from the third week of January 2021, that number could be set to ‘double’. In addition, the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen, is already currently operating at 118% bed capacity.
We have therefore taken the very regrettable, but necessary decision to announce as of today that routine elective inpatient, outpatient and day case surgeries will be postponed until further notice. Red flag and some time-critical procedures and clinics will continue, but will be reviewed daily.
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Social Distancing
Social distancing measures are steps you can take to reduce the social interaction between people. This will help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID19).
They are:
- Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough
- Avoid non-essential use of public transport, varying your travel times to avoid rush hour, when possible
- Work from home, where possible. Your employer should support you to do this. Please refer to employer guidance for more information
- Avoid large gatherings, and gatherings in smaller public spaces such as pubs, cinemas, restaurants, theatres, bars, clubs
- Avoid large gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media
- Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services
Everyone should follow these measures as much as is pragmatic. For those who are over 70, have an underlying health condition or are pregnant, we strongly advise you to follow the above measures as much as you can, and to significantly limit your face-to-face interaction with friends and family where possible.
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COVID-19 Testing
Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms. If you have symptoms you should book a free test. More information on Booking a Test
COVID19 Staff Testing service is now operational across the Western Trust with one centre in Altnagelvin Area Hospital and one centre in Enniskillen . It is important that we have a consistent approach to accessing COVID19 Staff Screening. Testing is for health care workers or a person in their household that they have direct contact with who is displaying COVID19 symptoms.
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Public Health Agency Advice
Public Health guidelines and advice regarding COVID19 – click here.
Public Health Agency Surveillance Reports – click here.
- NI Direct
- COVID-19 Information in Other Languages, BSL, ISL and Easy Read