A very bad situation for patients and families.

Bantry General Hospital has put major restrictions in place on visitors as it faces severe challenges.

The hospital, which suspended admissions almost entirely earlier this year, has struggled to fill vacancies in its staffing, leading to an overwhelming of the hospital’s resources. As a result, visitors are now unable to see loved ones unless in exceptional circumstances.

Non-Covid patients at the end of their lives can only have two nominated family visitors, and dying Covid patients can only receive one nominated family visitor.

Similarly, critically ill patients can only be visited by two nominated family members. Children cannot visit the hospital at all.

Children patients are also suffering, with just one parent allowed to accompany them if attending the local injury unit.

As happened earlier in the year, the hospital is asking patients to consider other avenues of care, such as contacting a GP first of all, or the Southdoc out of hours service.