Fears of a coronavirus outbreak at TWO NHS hospitals in Buckinghamshire as a ‘handful’ of patients are tested for the killer infection and wards are shut
- A number of patients at Wycombe Hospital and Stoke Mandeville Hospital, both run by Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust, have been diagnosed
- Wards have been closed and staff that dealt with the patients have been warned
- A second member of staff at Aintree Hospital in Liverpool has been infected
Fears of a coronavirus outbreak at two NHS hospitals in Buckinghamshire were today raised after a ‘handful’ of patients were tested for the killer infection.
A number of patients at Wycombe Hospital and Stoke Mandeville Hospital, both run by Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust, have been diagnosed.
Wards have been closed and staff that dealt with the patients have been warned about possible infection.
It is not clear if the patients were already being treated at the hospital, and therefore caught the deadly bug inside, or if they arrived to be tested for coronavirus.
Fears of a coronavirus outbreak at two NHS hospitals in Buckinghamshire were today raised after a ‘handful’ of patients were tested for the killer infection
A number of patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital (pictured) were diagnosed
Others tested positive at Wycombe Hospital, also in Berkshire
A statement by Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust said: ‘A small number of patients at Wycombe Hospital and Stoke Mandeville Hospital have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).
‘The patients are being cared for appropriately at the hospitals where they continue to be monitored and treated.
‘Staff and others who have come into contact with the patients are being informed and advised about what precautions they may need to take.
‘The wards affected are temporarily closed to new admissions and visitors. Patients affected by the temporary closures will be contacted directly.’
It comes as officials announced 590 people in the UK have tested positive for COVID0-19, and ten people have died.
It is not clear if the cases in Buckinghamshire are included in this toll. However, it is unlikely considering only two cases have been officially recorded to health chiefs.
Meanwhile, a second member of staff at Aintree Hospital in Liverpool has been infected with coronavirus.
It comes after it was revealed that a top surgeon at the hospital had become infected with the virus after a recent trip to Italy.
The surgeon’s diagnosis came after he had already been back at work in the hospital for several days.
It is thought that the latest case is a member of staff who came into contact with the surgeon.
Efforts are now being made to trace anyone who may have been in ‘close contact’ with the second staff member.
A spokesperson for Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We can confirm that a second member of staff at Aintree University Hospital has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).
‘They were identified, informed and advised as part of contact tracing related to an existing case.
‘The member of staff concerned has been asked to self-isolate at home. This tried and tested method is to ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them, our patients and the wider public.
‘Advice has been sought from PHE experts and the chance of transmission to staff and patients in the wider hospital setting is considered to be low.
‘An extensive “contact tracing” exercise is underway to trace anyone who might have had close contact with the member of staff.’