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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise
Flu spread in Laois caused the HSE to impose tight restrictions on visiting to Portlaoise hospital.
The health authority said visiting restrictions were enforced at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise on Friday, April 25.
It said the measure had to be taken to prevent the transmission of influenza that is circulating in the community. The HSE Dublin Midlands outlined the extent of the visiting curb, which was due to be reviewed on Tuesday, April 29.
Visiting to wards was restricted to compassionate purposes. Any visiting for critical or compassionate purposes had to be arranged in advance with the nurse in charge. It said the measures would be lifted as soon as possible when clinical circumstances allow.
It also asked that anyone who feels unwell or has any respiratory symptoms not to attend.
The statement also made an appeal to the public to help restrict the spread of flu. It also asked that patients with non-emergency conditions to seek assistance from other parts of the health service such as their pharmacist, GP, GP out-of-hours service, or a local injury unit.
The outbreak impacting Portlaoise hospital appears to be localised to Laois. MORE BELOW PICTURE.
Pictured: John Joyce is Portlaoise hospital's General Manager.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is Ireland's specialist service for the surveillance of communicable diseases. Its Integrated Respiratory Virus Bulletins during week 16 of 2025 found that influenza, COVID-19 and RSV activity in Ireland was at low levels. It said influenza hospital bed occupancy nationally remained stable in recent weeks
Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Oranisation said there were six people on trollies in the Portlaoise hospital Emergency Department at 8am on Friday.
For up-to-date guidelines on visiting patients, please visit: https://www2.hse.ie/services/hospitals/midland-regional-hospital-portlaoise/.
To learn more about influenza please visit the HSE website: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/flu/
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