Hospital in Boris Johnson's constituency closes to emergencies after coronavirus outbreak
Around 70 staff at Hillingdon hospital in Uxbridge have gone into isolation after symptoms were detected amongst some of them.
Wednesday 8 July 2020 20:20, UK
A hospital in Boris Johnson's constituency has been forced to close to emergencies after an outbreak of coronavirus among staff, officials have said.
Around 70 staff at Hillingdon Hospital in Uxbridge, in the prime minister's west London constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, have gone into isolation after symptoms were detected amongst some of them.
Ambulances were diverted away from Hillingdon hospital from last night and it was closed to emergency admissions today, though "walk in" casualty patients were still being seen.
A Hillingdon Hospital spokesperson said: "A number of our staff have either tested positive for COVID-19 or are self-isolating as a precaution.
"In line with arrangements we have in place to maintain safe and high quality care, the London Ambulance Service has been asked to take new patients to neighbouring hospitals to get the treatment they need.
"Any impact on patient care has been kept to an absolute minimum and there is no disruption to the care of our current patients."
Trust chief executive Sarah Tedford said on Wednesday she was treating the outbreak with the "utmost seriousness" and had ordered staff to stay at home and isolate if they had symptoms, the Evening Standard said.
An eight-bed ward in the hospital is reported to be the focus of concern, but it's not yet clear whether patients there had tested positive before the virus was detected in members of staff.