A member of the South Eastern Health Board is calling for the Government to provide financial assistance for health boards affected by the winter vomiting virus.
Cllr Séamus Ryan called on the Government to assist health boards in budgetary difficulty, due to the crippling effect the virus has had on staff and services.
Mr Ryan, a Waterford city councillor, said the South Eastern Health Board was particularly badly hit in an earlier outbreak, with the virus infecting 383 patients and 417 staff, at a cost of €1 million.
Yesterday, six more patients and three staff at Waterford Regional Hospital showed signs of having contracted the small round structured virus (SRSV), known as the winter vomiting virus. This brings to 25 patients and nine staff those affected by the new outbreak.
Mr Ryan is worried that the cost of the virus will stretch its already over-burdened budget and is adamant that the Government should bear the cost. "I have every confidence in the staff at WRH in controlling the spread of the virus. However, what is needed now is financial support by the Government."
The health board has cancelled all non-urgent admissions until next Tuesday. The hospital has been closed to visitors, apart from special circumstances, and placed security staff at its entrances. Outpatient clinics are proceeding as normal but are being reviewed daily.