Covid outbreak in Northumberland hospital - Alwnick Infirmary closes to new admissions
Alnwick Infirmary is currently closed to new admissions following a Covid-19 outbreak in the ward.
The closure was confirmed by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospitals in Northumberland and North Tyneside.
The trust’s director of infection prevention and control, David Tate, said: “High numbers of cases of coronavirus are circulating in our communities and we can confirm that we are currently managing an outbreak at the ward at Alnwick Infirmary.
“As is standard practice for any infections to help reduce their spread, the ward is closed to new admissions, however, existing inpatients continue to receive care following the strictest infection control procedures.
“We must all play our part to help reduce the spread of coronavirus in our communities by washing your hands regularly, wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces, keeping your distance from others and adhering to the restrictions. If you think you may have coronavirus symptoms please self-isolate and get a test.”
At a meeting of Northumberland County Council’s health and wellbeing board, director of public health Liz Morgan said that the trust currently had around 50 admissions with Covid-19 including half-a-dozen in intensive care – although not all may have been admitted for coronavirus.
Due to the rise in cases in the community, non-essential visiting in all of the hospitals across Northumberland and North Tyneside was suspended again from Friday, September 18.
Visiting is currently limited to the likes of patients receiving end-of-life care, birthing partners in maternity units and parents/guardians in the children’s unit.