Coronavirus outbreak at Pinderfields Hospital

A ward at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield has closed after two patients and four staff tested positive for Covid-19, the Trust has confirmed.

The Mid Yorkshire NHS Hospitals Trust, which runs the site, confirmed the news saying all appropriate action to limit the spread of the virus was being taken, including testing all inpatients and staff on the ward. A review into the circumstances of the outbreak is now underway.

In a statement the Mid Yorkshire NHS Hospitals Trust said:

"The Trust can confirm that two patients and four staff have tested positive for Covid-19 on one of the wards at Pinderfields Hospital over the last few days.

"The Trust is reviewing the circumstances and is taking all appropriate action to limit the spread of the virus, including testing all inpatients and staff on the ward. In line with the test and trace process, any individual identified as contacts of positive staff or patients will be required to isolate for 14 days. And, as a precautionary measure, the ward has been temporarily closed to new admissions, with any new patients being treated on an alternative ward at Pinderfields.

"We appreciate patients and their families may be concerned. We would like to reassure our community that we have a range of measures in place to ensure the safety of those coming to our sites, including appropriate PPE for staff, hand hygiene stations and the wearing of masks on hospital sites, one-way systems and social distancing.

"We also, as a matter of routine, undertake testing for Covid-19 as a part of our admission process, with a follow up test on day 7 of admission for any patient who tests negative on admission. If any patient is suspected of having Covid or tests positive, they are kept separate from other patients and we have strict infection cleaning processes in place."

They added: