Special COVID ward is set up
A new ‘COVID-19 step down ward’is to be set up at Perth Royal Infirmary as preparations for an influx of more infected patients intensifies.
The Tay Ward will be operating as a temporary COVID care facility and is understood to act as an isolating area for elderly patients who test positive.
Patients aged 65 and above are believed to be kept there for eight to 14 days after being diagnosed with COVID-19, with their treatment to continue once given the all clear.
These new measures come in to effect as the latest public COVID numbers for Perth and Kinross were released by Public Health Scotland.
Between December 21-27, 196 new cases were recorded, dropping from 227 for the previous week-long period.
There was a seven-day positive rating per 100,000 of 129 and a seven-day test positivity rate of 6.5 per cent.
Between December 14-20, the seven-day positive rating per 100,000 was 149.4 and the test positivity rate was 5.7 per cent.
Although the numbers of cases dropped over the Christmas week, top NHS Tayside doctors warned at a board meeting last month that this January could be the“most challenging”yet because of household mixing over Christmas.
And despite the elderly care ward being repurposed as a coronavirus hub on short notice, an NHS Tayside spokesperson insists the health board’s care system is“in the best position possible”to handle an influx.
They said:“Our clinical and support teams have been working together to action the next phase of NHS Tayside’s COVID-19 response plan which means our health and social care system is in the best position to respond to the twin pressures of winter and the impact of coronavirus.
“Alongside changes at Ninewells Hospital to increase the number of wards which are dedicated COVID-19 units, the next step in the plan is to mobilise a dedicated COVID step down ward on the PRI site to support the increase in patients requiring hospital admission across our sites.
“Tay Ward, which is in a separate area from the main ward block at PRI, has been temporarily repurposed as this dedicated COVID step down facility.
“Our health and social care teams are continuing to respond to the increasing pressures across hospitals and community services.
“As the levels of coronavirus are rising in our communities, it is important that people follow the Scottish Government’s FACTS guidance.”
Another spokesperson added that the infection prevention and control team has been working with staff to provide support and all appropriate PPE.
Staff working within the clinical area have also been prioritised to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, with the remainder scheduled to receive it in the coming days.