Nurse caring for the 28 residents over 72 hours with just three other staff
Most of the residents in the Nightingale Nursing Home have contracted coronavirus.
Dr Martin Daly, general practitioner to a third of the nursing home residents, said he was contacted by a nurse from the home on Thursday morning who was “extremely upset and desperate” and had been caring for the 28 residents over the last 72 hours with just three other staff.
The facility in question- the Nightingale Nursing Home in Ballinasloe – has been contacted for comment. The HSE has also been asked for a comment.
Dr Daly said one resident died on Wednesday, “most likely through a Covid-related illness” while another resident was admitted to hospital on Thursday.
“A nursing home resident was admitted last Thursday into hospital for a non-Covid illness it would appear, tested positive for Covid. Then the whole nursing home, which was the 28 residents and all the staff were tested. 26 out of the 28 residents tested positive over the weekend and all but four of the staff have tested positive,” he told The Irish Times on Thursday.
“The situation lies at the moment that in the last 72 hours, there’s one nursing professional, one care assistant and one person who prepares the food and one other carer trying to provide care to 28 vulnerable, elderly people with no immediate prospect of relief with more staff.
“They have appealed to the HSE and have been told there are no staff available even in these emergency circumstances.
“One person has died yesterday, most likely through a Covid-related illness and another person has been admitted to hospital today very ill, most likely with a Covid related illness.”