STAFF at East Lancashire’s hospitals have been praised for their outstanding courage and sacrifice after it was revealed nearly 1,400 contracted coronavirus last year.
Blackburn MP Kate Hollern hailed the staff as ‘heroic’ while Nigel Evans, Ribble Valley MP, said the high numbers highlighted ‘how exposed health professionals were during this crisis’. Data obtained in response to a Freedom of Information request shows 999 frontline workers were diagnosed with the virus between January 2020 and December 2020. Another 388 members of staff from across the trust tested positive for Covid-19 - a total of 1,387 people out of a workforce of about 9,000. That is equivalent to more than one in six people across five sites, Royal Blackburn Hospital, Burnley General Hospital, Clitheroe Community Hospital, Pendle Community Hospital and Accrington Victoria.
The worker - who has not been named - was quizzed over the rape and murder of Valerie Kneale (pict d) and is accused of sexually assaulting two patients and one colleague at Blackpool Victoria Hospital