As Covid-19 cases continue to rise to record levels across Northern Ireland with the Omicron variant, a doctor at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen has appealed for patients who are fit for discharge to leave the hospital.
The Fermanagh and Omagh area has the second highest rate of infection after Derry and Strabane in the last seven days, according to Department of Health figures.
The Western Health and Social Care Trust has issued urgent appeals on several occasions in the last week for staff cover as self-isolation rules continue to impact staffing levels at both the SWAH and Altnagelvin hospitals.
Dr Darren Lillis, an emergency medicine consultant at the SWAH, said that local hospitals remain under significant pressure and it was important beds are kept for those in critical care.
“Our hospitals continue to be under significant pressure, and it is important that we continue to adhere to the local guidelines with regard to the pandemic,” Dr Lillis said.
“As we continue to deal with the pressure, it is important that patients who are medically fit for discharge are able to leave the hospital expeditiously, and that family are able to facilitate getting patients home.
“This allows patients who are critically sick in the Emergency Department requiring ongoing care and hospitalisation to be able to avail of a hospital bed.”
3,980 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Fermanagh and Omagh in the last seven days, while as of 5 December there were 74 inpatients in Western Trust hospitals with the disease.
Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus-related deaths across Northern Ireland has risen to more than 3,000 for the first time.
According to figures released on Thursday, there are currently 404 Covid-19 confirmed patients in hospital and 30 in intensive care.
