SOME operations have had to be rescheduled after patients tested positive for coronavirus at the Hospital.
In a statement issued yesterday, Health and Community Services clinical services director Claire Thompson acknowledged that bed shortages had been made worse by the “need to apply appropriate infection control measures” in light of the Covid cases.
A small number of routine or non-emergency operations have been rescheduled, she said.
The Health Department has sought to reassure patients that they should still attend their scheduled appointments.
In a statement, Ms Thompson said: “HCS has seen increased emergency attendances to the Emergency Department this week and a rise in our emergency admissions as a consequence. This has resolved over the week and is a usual feature of acute care.
“Any patients showing signs of respiratory illness post-admission are tested routinely as part of their care and some have subsequently shown to have Covid. Owing to the need to apply appropriate infection control measures, this has added to bed pressures. Therefore a small number of ‘routine’/non-urgent operations have been rescheduled.”
The Health Department this week closed the surgical ward to visitors.
Ms Thompson added: “At any time, but more often in winter, it may be appropriate to alter our visiting policy to ensure patients are protected and to limit the spread of infection to staff, in order to maintain and care for our workforce.”
