Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Swann pledge on hospital outbreaks
NORTHERN Ireland’s health system is in a fragile place, minister Robin Swann warned yesterday.
He said no stone would be left unturned in tracing two coronavirus outbreaks in a
Co Armagh hospital where five patients on a cancer ward have tested positive.
It’s the second cluster of infections at the Craigavon Area
Hospital site.
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust said a member of staff has tested positive and three close staff contacts are selfisolating as a precaution.
It added: “Covid-19 is rising again in our community.
“We urgently appeal to everyone to wash their hands, cover their face and maintain social distancing.”
The ward is now closed to admissions and Trust staff are working closely with the Public Health Agency to manage the situation.
Following recent Covid-19 cases in Craigavon’s emergency department, some staff are reported to now be isolating at home as a precaution.
The Trust tweeted: “With reduced staff, longer waiting times more likely but will keep to minimum.
“Emergency department remains open but is busy – only attend if urgent condition requiring emergency treatment and no alternative.”
The Trust has confirmed three staff members at the hospital’s respiratory emergency department have also tested positive for the virus. The Trust said that yesterday 20 members of staff were selfisolating as a precaution.
It added any other employees who have been in close contact with the confirmed cases are being tested and are currently at home isolating as a precaution.
The Trust said: “At this stage it is understood the infection may have transferred in a social setting, ie not within the Emergency Department.
“Staff in the ED wear full personal protective equipment when treating patients, therefore we do not believe there is any risk to patients at this time.”
The Department of Health announced yesterday another 47 people have tested positive across Northern Ireland, bringing the overall tally to 6,823. No new deaths were reported.
The Health Minister said it was vitally important to protect the NHS workforce and patients as the number of cases picks up ahead of the annual flu season.
Mr Swann added: “No-one is immune to this virus, there is no workplace that should not be paying due attention to the guidance that is laid down.”
Dr Thelma Craig, a respiratory consultant at the Mater Hospital in Belfast, has looked after up to 500 people with coronavirus.
She said: “There is a more rapid turnaround test that we do have available which gives a result in a few hours. We have to limit that because there is only a certain amount of that at present, to prioritise cases in hospital and intensive care.”