Hospital cancels operations after bug outbreak
A Dublin hospital today cancelled all non-emergency surgery due to an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug at another hospital in the city.
The Mater Hospital decided not to carry out non-elective operations in order to help out Beaumont Hospital, which has been hit by the bug.
A total of 24 patients at Beaumont are now confirmed to have the illness, while another 74 patients and staff are showing symptoms.
Patients on 15 of the hospital’s 19 wards have shown signs of the illness, a spokesman said.
Beaumont Hospital spokesman John Stanley said Mater cancelled today’s non-elective surgery to help cut waiting lists at Beaumont, which postponed all such operations in the past week.
“Mater will be freeing up beds to help with the overflow,” he added.
Maureen Brown, of the Eastern Regional Health Authority, said that although the bug was not serious it was necessary to take action to prevent other patients being infected.
She said: “This is a 24 to 48-hour sickness bug, it is not a very serious illness. The problem is that it means beds cannot be made available for fear of infection.”
Mater Hospital’s non-emergency surgery will resume tomorrow.
