Western Trust Medical Director Dr. Catherine McDonnell urges adherence to COVID-19 restrictions following ‘frightening’ rise in admissions of ‘extremely unwell’ patients

Dr. Catherine McDonnell made the plea after what she described as a ‘frightening’ rise in positive cases locally over the past number of weeks.

She said Altnagelvin is now feeling the impact with an increasing number of patients admitted with Covid who are ‘extremely unwell.’ Aside from the increase in Covid patients, the medical director also spoke of the impact on staffing levels.

“We are having to close wards for fear that we may spread Covid to patients and staff and we are concerned that our workforce is unable to come to work either because they are suffering from Covid, or family members are suffering from Covid,” she said.

Visiting restrictions at Altnagelvin hospital have also been put in place, according to Dr. Mc Donnell.

She said it was not luck but the hard work of the community that kept Covid at bay during the first surge in the spring.

“I am confident that we can do this again,” she said.

Dr. Mc Donnell asked every individual to consider their own personal behaviour in the coming weeks. She encouraged the wearing of face masks, the maintenance of social distancing, keeping social contacts down and the washing of hands, as some examples ‘to help turn back the tide of Covid 19 within the Western Trust.’

The senior director appealed to people to cooperate with and listen to the guidance being offered by WHSCT staff across the board.

“It is critically important that you respect our staff on a day to day basis with the difficult job that they do on all our behalves,” concluded Dr. McDonnell.