HSE wants visitors to stay away from hospitals to beat swine flu

Strict visitor restrictions have been put in place in all hospitals in the Midlands in an effort to protect patients and staff and prevent further spread of Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Flu).The HSE has this week asked that children under 14 years of age do not visit the hospitals and that all other visitors only come to the Hospital if it is absolutely necessary.In addition, it wants all visitors to use the alcohol gel supplied as they enter and leave the hospital, and are asking that visitors respect the visitor restrictions - and the hospital's security staff, who have been tasked with ensuring the restrictions are adhered to.A spokesperson for the HSE also appealed to people to refrain from visiting the hospital or any healthcare facility if they have any signs or symptoms of the Flu."It's very important that everyone remembers the simple ways to avoid spreading flu around - now more than ever, as the level of flu is now much higher than our usual seasonal flu levels for wintertime," HSE spokesperson Dymphna Bracken said this week.Citing the "Catch it, bin it, kill it" motto, Ms. Bracken said that it is now more important than ever to put these measures into practice, and that the HSE is advising the public to avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and have fever and cough; and to always carry tissues.Further information on the flu is available from www.swineflu.ie or www.hse.ie; from the automated HSE Flu line 1800 94 11 00; and from the HSE infoline 1850 24 1850.Meanwhile, the HSE announced on Monday that its Swine Flu Vaccination Clinics around the country will shortly begin inviting children from 6 months to under 5 years of age and people aged 65 and over to be vaccinated against swine flu. This is part of the phased roll out of the vaccine to the population."Starting this week, the HSE is writing to parents of children aged from 6 months to under 5 years, to let them know when it is time for them bring their child to the HSE clinic for their vaccine."Parents of children in this group will begin to receive letters starting this week and throughout November and early December. People aged 65 and over will begin to be invited over the coming fortnight," the HSE said.Dr. Brenda Corcoran, HSE National Immunisation Office, said "We have been giving the first supplies of vaccine to people more at risk from Swine Flu such as pregnant women, people with long term illness and cancer patients. We now want to start offering the vaccine to all children aged over 6 months and under 5 years. Children in this age group are more at risk of getting Swine Flu and are also more at risk of being hospitalised because of complications so we want to make sure that we protect as many children as possible from the effects of the flu."