George Eliot sets up quarantine area over coronavirus alert
EMERGENCY contingency plans are in place if the coronavirus hits Nuneaton’s hospital.
The George Eliot Hospital is setting aside an area for quarantine should anyone turn-up displaying symptoms of the deadly virus.
It should all be in place for the start of this week.
Information on tell-tale signs and what to do is also being made available to all staff.
It was Russell Hardy, the George Eliot Hospital Trust’s chairman, who sought reassurances that the hospital was prepared.
Stephen Collman, director of operations at the hospital, said: “We have a task and finish group set up and we are receiving very regular updates from NHS.
“The latest update is around some arrangements we have to make on site if patients who do present themselves with symptoms or think they have symptoms, we have to have them separated.
“So we are in the process of arranging that, the deadline for that is Friday (Feb 7).
“Everything we have been asked to do, we have met.
“Our emergency planner has been doing a lot of work with staff as well.”
Daljit Awal, director of nursing, added that staff will be receiving information on how to find guidance on coronavirus.
David Eltringham, the hospital’s managing director, was keen to remind residents of the steps they are being advised to take if they believe they have symptoms of the virus.
“In reference for members of the public, the advice is not to come to hospital if you can possibly avoid it,” he said.
“Calll 111 to receive advise on how to proceed f they have the virus.”
Public Health England (PHE) has issued an 11-page guide to hospitals on how to identify symptoms and handle the condition, including instructions on moving dead bodies, it emerged over the weekend.
The advice was issued early on in the outbreak as part of PHE’s standard infection prevention control procedures.