Saolta draws up ‘surge plan’ as ICU occupancy doubles

Thu, Apr 09, 2020

Saolta has drawn up a “surge plan” to meet the challenges expected to face the health service as the pandemic peaks - the HSE believes this will take place within the coming days and week. This will see a field hospital at the Bailey Allen Hall at NUI Galway and a self-isolation centre at the Connacht Hotel.

This involves expanding ICU capacity in local hospitals, purchasing additional ventilators, using Galway’s two private hospitals for vital cancer surgery and medical rehabilitation, and setting up a field hospital close to UHG. Provision for self-isolation, a centre for patients recovering from Covid-19, and expanded morgue facilities are also included in this plan to cope with the most severe outcome possible, should this arise. Patients requiring ICU facilities are being transferred to critical care units in other hospitals if their local units are full.

The number of Covid-19 patients occupying intensive care unit beds in the west’s three public hospitals has doubled within a week.