They really need help : HSE makes urgent appeal for nurses in Cork
More than 180 of CUH s estimated 1,400 nurses are now unavailable for work for reasons related to Covid-19.
Volunteers have received an email appealing for help. Picture: Brian Lawless
Fri, 08 Jan, 2021 - 15:17
Neil Michael
The HSE has put out an urgent call for nurses and care assistants through the Cork Volunteer Centre.
Volunteers have received an email appealing for their help.
It reads: “The HSE urgently requires the assistance of qualified nurses and care assistants in Cork. “Please note that these are paid roles, but the HSE has asked us to circulate to anyone who may be in a position to help . We are members of the Community Response Forum with the HSE and the Local Authority and they really need help.”
This comes as Cork University Hospital (CUH) cancelled all but essential services after a surge in Covid-19 cases, the Irish Examiner reported earlier today.
The hospital is currently caring for over 110 Covid-19 patients, surging in recent days and triggering an escalation plan that has seen all non-essential services.
Hospitalisations from Covid-19 have continued to climb with 1,153 people currently being treated for coronavirus in Irish hospitals, with more than 100 hospitalisations in the last day.
There are 109 people in ICU in Ireland as of 2pm today with Covid-19.
Gerard O’Callaghan, CEO of CUH, said the number of cases in the hospital meant it was the right time for the hospital to begin its escalation plan.