10% WHSCT staff now tested for COVID-19

Every single patient admitted to a hospital is also being screened as part of the Trust’s efforts to contain the illness.

Director of Acute Services, Geraldine McKay, outlined the steps being taken to identify potential cases in order to prevent clusters and outbreaks.

Key among these is the testing of front line health care workers.

“In terms of staff testing in hospital we have tested about 10 per cent of our staff at this minute in time. So we reckon about 1,400 to 1,500 staff have been through the testing process to date,” the senior director advised.

Screening patients as they are admitted to hospital is a further important element of preventing contagion.

“All admissions to our hospitals are tested from ED and for surgery, etcetera. All admissions. Then within the hospital itself, services, any transfers from one hospital to another, patients are tested before they transfer. Patients are tested before they discharge to care homes, in particular, and any patients who display symptoms while they are an inpatient in the hospital are also tested so there is quite a bit of testing going on within our facilities,” she said.

Dr. Bob Brown, Executive Director of Nursing and Primary Care and Older People’s services, said testing was also taking place at care homes.

“The regional guidance requires, in the care home sector, if there are developing symptoms within a home that may be an indication of an outbreak, even two or more people with symptoms, that requires every resident in the home to be COVID tested and also all staff members.

“The same would apply to staff members who are COVID symptomatic. Also then the route back from the hospital: anyone who is going back to a care home will be tested in hospital and ideally, within that 48 hour window, the results will be back in the care home before the person returns,” said Dr. Brown.