Medical incident at asylum seekers’ hotel

AFULL scale medical emergency was declared for a time at a Westcountry hotel housing migrants – for what turned out to be a case of chickenpox.

One person was taken to hospital last Friday in an incident that involved paramedics, police officers, and a hazard response team.

Local MP Steve Double said the UK Health Security Agency had told him that the person taken to hospital was diagnosed with chickenpox. He added that “the scenes that some witnessed were a precaution whilst the patient was diagnosed”.

One witness reported seeing medical staff wearing “full white suits and masks” in and around the hotel, and a number of Devon and Cornwall Police officers stationed at the front and rear of the Beresford Hotel, Newquay.

The hotel is currently acting as a temporary home to asylum seekers who have already been through the first stages to process their asylum application in the UK.

Mr Double, the MP for St Austell and Newquay, said: “I know there has been a great deal of concern and speculation around scenes yesterday at the hotel in Newquay that is accommodating asylum seekers.

“I understand why local residents have been concerned and while I have not wanted to add to the rumour and speculation, which I do not believe would have been helpful,

I have been keeping in touch with Government ministers and local health officials to keep informed of developments.

“This evening I have had it confirmed by the UKHSA, via a Government minister, that the person who was taken to hospital has been diagnosed with chickenpox.

“The scenes that some witnessed were a precaution whilst the patient was diagnosed. I hope that this will provide reassurance to all concerned.”

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 11.36 hours to an incident in Newquay.

“We sent two double-crewed land ambulances, an operations officer and hazardous area response team resources. We conveyed one patient to hospital by land ambulance.”

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said they were called to attend the incident by the ambulance service.