Cornwall hospital offers to take surgery patients from Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital
Watch: Chief Executive of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust Ann James gives an update on 6 November.
Health bosses in Cornwall have offered to take surgery patients from Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital while it remains “busier than ever”.
Senior staff at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) say “complex” surgeries could be carried out at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.
Data from NHS England has revealed 64 patients were being treated for coronavirus at Derriford Hospital as of 3 November - which is a rise on 32 as of 27 October.
Anne James, who is the Chief Executive of Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said the hospital “needed to make changes” which may “disrupt or inconvenience” patients.
Ms James added visitor restrictions will be enforced during lockdown, and there will be an increase in “video and non face-to-face consultations”.
The RCH in Truro, meanwhile, could be used to carry out some of Derriford’s planned surgeries.
Kate Shields, who is the Chief Executive of RCHT, said: “We are doing what we can to contain infections in hospital and to protect our patients.
Speaking at a briefing on 5 November, Ms Shields added there were currently seven coronavirus patients being treated at the RCH - three of which are in intensive care.
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