AT LEAST 144 patients caught Covid-19 while in a hospital run by Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT) during December, figures show. A report to the trust’s board of directors in January reveals that 144 patients in hospitals run by the trust – Basingstoke, Andover, and Winchester – caught the virus while there. A further eight probably caught the virus in hospital, the report said. A total of 285 patients were admitted to the trust’s hospitals having caught Covid in the community. For another 16 patients who tested positive for Covid, the trust was unable to determine whether they caught the virus in the community or in hospital.
Winchester hospital was put on ‘black alert’ last month following a surge in Covid-19 patients. Hospitals usually declare this highest alert level when they are under such significant pressure that they cannot ‘deliver comprehensive care’ and patient care is at risk. However, a spokesperson for Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) said the alert system is internal and refers only to Covid patients, not the wider care of other hospital patients. Alex Whitfield, chief executive of HHFT reported to the board of directors on January 28 that the hospital had been moved to ‘black alert’ status following a rise in Covid-19 patients.
BASINGSTOKE hospital was put on ‘black alert’ earlier this month following a surge in Covid-19 patients. Hospitals usually declare this highest alert level when they are under such significant pressure that they cannot ‘deliver comprehensive care’ and patient care is at risk. However, a spokesperson for HHFT said the alert system is internal and refers only to Covid patients, not the wider care of other hospital patients. Alex Whitfield, chief executive of HHFT reported to the board of directors on January 28 that the Aldermaston Road hospital had been moved to ‘black alert’ status following a rise in Covid-19 patients. The Gazette asked the trust earlier in January if it was on ‘black alert’, and a spokesperson responded to say it has its “own internal Covid status system to manage our patients and staffing levels depending on the severity and pressure on our service”.
ANDOVER hospital was put on red alert earlier this month, indicating major pressures compromising patient flow which continue to increase. Alex Whitfield, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT) reported to the board of directors on January 28 that the Charlton Road hospital had been moved to the second highest ‘red alert’ status. However, a spokesperson for HHFT said the alert system is internal and refers only to Covid patients, not the wider care of other hospital patients. Julie Maskery, chief operating officer at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, told the Advertiser: “During the pandemic, we have implemented an internal Covid status system to monitor the level of Covid activity in our hospitals, and appropriately action our plans as needed.