‘Irresponsible’ staff blamed for outbreak on ward in PM’s patch

THE boss of a hospital in Boris Johnson’s constituency has blamed an outbreak of coronavirus on ‘irresponsible’ staff failing to wear masks and adhere to social distancing rules.

Hillingdon Hospital has been forced to close to emergencies since Monday night. NHS officials said up to 70 staff were in selfisolation including ‘a number’ who had tested positive.

Ambulances are being diverted to other trusts although walk-in A&E patients can still be seen. On Friday, the trust’s chief executive, Sarah Tedford, sent a message to staff saying: ‘I am told some of you are not wearing appropriate masks and you are not adhering to social distancing. This has resulted in an outbreak on a ward where our staff have contracted Covid-19.

‘I don’t like wearing a mask, but it would be irresponsible of me not to do so. Please think very carefully about what you are doing and ask yourselves if you are keeping yourself safe and if you are keeping each other safe.’

In the message reported by The Guardian, she added: ‘This is such a serious matter, and at the moment I’m afraid some of us are not demonstrating the behaviour we should be.’ However, the Daily Mail has been informed that some frontline workers claim the outbreak was triggered by them being admonished by managers for wearing face masks ‘inappropriately’.

A letter sent by a group of doctors to Mrs Tedford this week warned consultants and junior doctors had been told to remove the masks. Staff were told off about their ‘inappropriate use of PPE (personal protective equipment)’, the letter alleges.

The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation trust serves people in the Prime Minister’s constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

A spokesman for the trust said: ‘The vast majority of our staff are maintaining social distancing and it is essential that everyone follows the guidance if we are to provide the safest care to our patients.’