23/07/2021
The Western Trust has announced current “1-1-1” visiting restrictions will remain in place at Altnagelvin and Waterside Hospitals for another seven day period, until at least Friday 30 July 2021, with amended guidelines applying to other Western Trust sites.
The visiting arrangements at both Altnagelvin and Waterside Hospitals will continue on the basis of one (1) visitor, for a maximum time of one (1) hour, once (1) in the week permitted for the next seven days.
The situation will be reviewed again on Friday 30 July. More frequent visiting in exceptional circumstances, such as at the end of life will continue to be permitted, as will visiting for birthing partners to maternity services, each in a risk assessed way.
Visiting to other facilities, such as Spruce House (Altnagelvin site), Grangewood and Lakeview (Gransha site) have had daily restrictions applied with visiting allowed to a maximum of one visitor, for one hour, once per day. Visitors to these sites are asked to make specific arrangements by speaking with the officer in charge of each facility.
Visiting arrangements to all other Western Trust facilities, including South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen and Omagh Hospital, will also continue on the basis of one visitor, for one hour, once per day. This will remain under review and risk assessed accordingly owing to any further increase in admitted infection rates to any particular department, e.g. an inability to retain a COVID-19 secure environment of care.
Paediatric wards (children’s) in Altnagelvin and South West Acute Hospital will continue to permit a parent to be at the child’s bedside, ensuring this is risk assessed and in a COVID-19 secure way.
The initial decision to impose visiting restrictions in Altnagelvin and Waterside Hospitals was necessary following a significant increase in Covid-19 transmission in the North West community area, resulting in a sharp rise in admissions of Covid-19 patients.
Presently the Western Trust has a total of 48 COVID-19 positive patients, with thirty-four (34) in Altnagelvin and fourteen (14) in South West Acute Hospital.
With the significant rise in Community transmission of COVID-19, the situation will continue to be monitored and reviewed as the Trust continues to deal with a very challenging situation and the safety of patients and staff will always be to the forefront of any decision made.
The continued major focus on the vaccination programme remains integral in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and everyone who can is encouraged to get their vaccine as soon as possible, including accessing our pop-up clinics in various parts of the community, and which are proving successful.
For latest Visiting Guidelines visit our COVID19 Visiting Guidance page.
The Trust have provided a range of ways to facilitate anyone to access the vaccine.
To find out about how you can get your vaccine at any of the Mass Vaccination Centres or Mobile walk-in clinics, you can visit the Western Trust: Vaccination Info page.
If you are planning to attend one of our Hospitals, facilities or one of our three the Mass Vaccination Centres, located at Foyle Arena, Omagh Leisure Complex and the Lakeland Forum, please do not do so if you:
- Are currently unwell with a high temperature or fever
- Have had a first positive test for COVID-19 in the last 28 Days
- You have been advised to self-isolate
- Had any vaccine (including flu) in the last 7 days.
Anyone attending any Western Trust Facility or to the Mass Vaccination Centres, or mobile walk in clinics, is reminded to wear a face covering (unless exempt for medical reasons) and adhere to social distancing and hand-hygiene rules.