Don’t hit us while we’re down

infection control can be put in place to protect staff and patients who need routine care, and keep possible coronavirus patients treated separately.

They added: “We will be fully led by evidence-based quality and equality impact assessments as we conduct this review. We know that many of our patients in Ealing are waiting for important but routine surgery, and it’s important that we are able to provide this to them in the most effective way, while also minimising their risk of becoming infected with Covid-19.

“We are taking all these complicated factors into account as we consider how we can best continue to care for all our patients.”

Hospital bosses also confirmed there is no plan to reverse changes to maternity and children’s services at the trust and to return them to Ealing Hospital, and said a 2017 review of paediatric services across north west London showed children were receiving better care than under the previous arrangement.