Visiting to remain suspended at Cornwall's main hospitals until next week
The number of patients testing positive for Covid has doubled in just a few weeks
Last updated 11th Mar 2022
The temporary suspension of visitors at Cornwall's main hospitals is expected to last till the middle of next week.
The trust that runs Treliske made the decision because of a rise in Covid cases, after warning that it was having a "significant impact".
The number of positive patients has doubled in just a few weeks.
Right now, around 85 are being cared for in the Duchy, leading to some wards being closed.
The RCHT has been operating at critical incident level since October.
Bosses say Treliske is also under pressure because a high number of hospital patients who are well enough to leave are waiting for forward care packages.
Speaking on Friday, Chief Executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals' Trust, Steve Williamson, said: "We've now got about 85 Covid-positive patients at our RCHT hospitals and they're in some wards across our trust so we've got a number of bays and wards that have Covid-positive patients in so we can't admit new patients into those wards currently".
Speaking about the decision to temporarily suspend visiting, Steve added: "We're asking people not to come and visit at Treliske Hospital or at our RCHT hospitals. We expect that to be the case for the next few days - so that will be through until the middle of next week. Hopefully we'll be able to review that and then start to reintroduce visiting".
Speaking about operating at critical incident level, Steve said: "Staff right across the health and care system do outstanding jobs every single day.
"Our ambulance service colleagues are under significant pressure - so are staff right across RCHT but also in our Community Partnership Trust, in GPs, in our care sector - so everyone works incredibly hard. I think all parts of the health and care system are seeing that challenge and that level".
Exceptional circumstances for end of life care and the current arrangements for maternity, paediatrics and paediatrics remain in place.
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