Patient transfers from central belt ‘not linked to hospital outbreak’

Concerns h av e been raised that the transfer of patients from the central belt to Aberdeen could be linked to a Covid-19 outbreak at the northeast’s flagship hospital.

MSP Alexander Burnett last night said he had written to NHS Grampian after medics contacted him about patients from highly infectious areas of the country being sent north to be treated – despite travel restrictions being in place.

The letter calls for clarity on where the outbreak at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary ( ARI) originated and the impact that an influx of patients from other cities could have on hospital resources.

NHS Grampian confirmed yesterday it had set up a specialist team to investigate an outbreak of Covid-19 at ARI, which is understood to have spread to staff.

A total of 26 cases have been detected within ward 109 at the hospital – with around 10 medics thought to be infected.

Mr Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire We s t , said: “I have been contacted by health professionals who have told me patients from higher tier areas across Scotland are coming up to Aberdeen to be treated.

“NHS Grampian and the Scottish Government have a duty to tell the public this information on the grounds of safety.

“Patients who rely on ARI must be reassured this alarming situation is being investigated i m m e d i a t e l y, so the number of people affected doesn’t rise.

“The Scottish Government must take urgent action to prevent this outbreak spreading even further throughout ARI and ensure contact tracing systems are working as robustly as possible.”

NHS Grampian said last night there was “no link” between the ARI outbreak on ward 109 and patients transferred from outside Aberdeen.

It confirmed that a “small number” of Covid-19 patients from other health board regions have been admitted to the National Respiratory ECMO Centre, which is housed at ARI.

But a spokesman for the health board said: “Those patients are collected from their home boards by a highly specialised ECMO team and taken to ARI for the potentially life- saving treatment.

“We are the only centre in Scotland which offers respiratory ECMO.

“All of our Covid-19 patients are treated in designated Covid-19 red areas, where specialised measures are in place to protect the rest of our patients and staff.”

The Scott ish Government has been approached for comment.

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has seen a Covid outbreak.