New ICU ward opens for Covid-19 patients at Bath's Royal United Hospital
A new intensive care unit for coronavirus patients has been opened at Bath's Royal United Hospital.
The Pierce Intensive Care Unit, which took six weeks to build, has 14 beds available.
It means the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust now has space for 27 intensive care patients.
Trust Chief Executive James Scott said the ward was built following calls from the Department of Health to increase ICU capacity.
He said that although the RUH has not experienced the number of patients testing positive for coronavirus as seen in other parts of the country, this unit will allow it to manage any future surges in intensive care demand.
James Scott said: “Our teams of staff and contractors have done an amazing job in creating this facility so quickly.
The Trust said an improved feature of the new Pierce Intensive Care Unit’s 14 beds is that each is contained in a negative pressure environment.
These are sealed areas with carefully controlled ventilation that prevents contaminated air from escaping the room and this maximises safety for staff and patients.
Staff enter and exit via a separate room that acts as an airlock, helping to reduce the risk of infection.