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Somerset NHS hospital shuts doors to new patients due to spike in coronavirus cases

Weston General Hospital, in north Somerset, described the move as a precautionary measure - AFP
Weston General Hospital, in north Somerset, described the move as a precautionary measure - AFP
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Coronavirus Article Bar with counter

An NHS hospital has shut its doors to all new patients, including emergency cases, for the first time due to a spike in coronavirus cases.

Weston General Hospital, in north Somerset, described the move as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

It comes amid reports that the number of patients at the hospital who have tested positive for the virus has doubled since last week.

On Monday, the mayor of Weston-super-Mare suggested an increase in local cases may have been a consequence of the slight easing of lockdown restrictions a fortnight ago, which allowed people access to beaches.

Meanwhile, leaked NHS communications reportedly warned that 40 per cent of staff at the hospital have tested positive for Covid-19.

Calculations by Cambridge University earlier this month put the rate of infection – the 'R' rate – in the south-west ahead of the average in England overall, although the death rate from the disease is so far low. At 0.76, the region was second only to the north-east and Yorkshire, which were 0.8.

Nationally, the 'R' number needs to stay below one to ensure that the virus retreats and lockdown can be eased.

Dr William Oldfield, the medical director at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, said: "As with any hospital, the number of patients with Covid-19 will frequently change as people are admitted and discharged.

"We currently have a high number of patients with Covid-19 in Weston General Hospital. Whilst the vast majority will have come into the hospital with Covid-19, as an extra precaution we have taken the proactive step to temporarily stop accepting new patients to maintain patient and staff safety."

The temporary closure includes admissions to the A&E department. Dr Oldfield said the decision had been taken with support of the wider NHS in the region and that alternative provision for patients who would normally have attended Weston General would be made.

In March, Northwick Park Hospital in London declared a "critical incident" after running out of intensive care beds.

The Telegraph also revealed that, in the week before lockdown was imposed, a separate London trust, Lewisham and Greenwich, had been forced to send Covid-19 patients to other trusts.

Search by NHS Trusts: Coronavirus Deaths
Search by NHS Trusts: Coronavirus Deaths

However, NHS leaders have stressed throughout the crisis that emergency services have remained available as normal, and this is believed to be the first time that a hospital has closed its doors to all new patients due to coronavirus.

A message sent out late on Sunday to NHS staff in the South West, seen by Somerset Live, reportedly said: "Weston-super-Mare General Hospital are reporting 64 inpatients as Covid-19 positive. This is an increase from 30 at the beginning of the week.

"Also on testing, asymptomatic staff are reporting 40 per cent of those tested as Covid-19 positive."

At least one member of staff at Weston General, Amarante Dias, has died after contracting Covid-19.

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Coronavirus podcast newest episode

The south-west has nevertheless suffered the fewest deaths – 1,157 – and cases – 7,524 – so far during the pandemic. There have been 114 deaths at University Hospitals Bristol and three at Weston NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Weston General Hospital.

Dr Oldfield said: "This is a clinically-led decision, and we are being supported by our system partners to ensure that new patients receive the care and treatment they need in the appropriate setting and we are continuing to provide high-quality care to existing patients who are being treated in the hospital.

"We have a robust coronavirus testing programme in place for patients and staff to identify cases quickly, with appropriate measures taken by clinical teams as required."