The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
NHS Fife: Hospital visits to be banned
COVID: Almost all routine visiting suspended as virus cases surge
Almost all visitors will be banned from Fife hospitals from tonight after a spike of coronavirus cases in the region.
NHS Fife bosses said a number of new patients admitted with the virus are “very unwell” following a “considerable spread”.
Routine visiting will be suspended from 7pm but some exceptions are permitted, including for pregnant women and end of life care.
Dona Milne, NHS Fife director of public health, said: “It is vital that we do all that we can to protect those most at risk of the effects of the virus and to protect our health and social care services.”
Routine visiting has been suspended at all NHS Fife hospitals after a spike in cases in the region. The ban is designed to protect vulnerable patients and healthcare staff and begins tonight at 7pm.
Dona Milne, NHS Fife director of Public Health, said some new patients are severely ill with Covid-19.
She said: “We know that the suspension of routine visiting will be concerning for patients and their loved ones. However, we have seen a growing number of Covid-19 infections over recent weeks and it is clear that we have considerable spread of the virus within our communities in Fife.
“Some of the people becoming infected are becoming very unwell and are being admitted to our hospitals. The nature of this virus is that it is highly infectious and can be easily spread by those with no symptoms at all or with mild symptoms.
“It is vital that we do all that we can to protect those most at risk of the effects of the virus and to protect our health and social care services.”
Visits will continue for those receiving end-of-life care, while pregnant women can identify one designated visitor.
Those suffering mental health difficulties and anyone with learning difficulties will also be allowed a visitor if being without would be distressing.
Adults can still accompany a child in hospital too.
NHS Fife medical director Dr Christopher McKenna said healthcare services in the kingdom face considerable challenges in the coming weeks and months.
He added: “We need to do all we can to prevent clusters of Covid-19 within our hospitals and it is not overstating the situation to say that by taking this step it will ultimately help us to save lives.”
It is not yet known how long the restrictions will be in place.
Meanwhile, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said retired and former healthcare workers could be drafted in to help keep the NHS afloat amid a“very, very challenging winter”.
She said hospitals are already under “intense pressure” but insisted there is no shortage of beds or staff. The SNP leader announced a further 39 coronavirus deaths and 1,216 positive tests, as she warned the R number – or rate of transmission – is still “hovering around one”.
Ms Sturgeon said both she and Health Secretary J ea ne Freeman“look closely” at the capacity in hospitals and intensive care units across the country on a daily basis but admitted there was “no room for complacency”.
She said her government was “working hard to ensure that the capacity of our National Health Service is managed in a way that we can cope with whatever Covid-19 throws at us over the winter, and also as far as possible continue to treat without cancellation of elective or planned operations”.
Tory group leader Ruth Davidson said the Scottish Government ’s Winter Preparedness Plan, released last week, fails to consider how to replace 3,000 student doctors and nurses who helped the NHS during the first wave of the virus.
The plan states it would “not be appropriate” to use medical students to deal with staff shortages but Ms Davidson warned this will leave a “very substantial gap”.
Ms Sturgeon said the health secretary was now working on a “winter workforce plan” and the NHS should be able to access the General Medical Council ’s emergency register and recruit from a “pool” of retired and former healthcare workers.