THE chief executive of the Poole and Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch NHS trusts has said she is “hugely encouraged” by progress made in preparing for a worsening of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a message to staff on Friday, Debbie Fleming said the hospitals were “doing all they could” to be ready for the coming months.

It follows work to expand capacity within their emergency departments and the cancellation of much of its planned surgery.

 


As of Thursday, there were only nine confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the BCP Council area but this figure is expected to grow in the coming weeks.

In her message, Ms Fleming said new national guidance was being reviewed by the trusts’ leadership teams to allow their policies and procedures to be updated if required.

“We are urgently working through the implications so that we can prioritise how best to support you all, whilst maintaining the services that we need to continue to provide for our patients,” she said.

“I am hugely encouraged by the progress that has been made in planning to create more emergency capacity, including intensive care facilities, and of course this can come on line very swiftly now given the decision to reduce elective activity.”

Concerns had been raised by the chief executive of BCP Council about the “narrower market” in which it has to find places for people discharged from hospital with many care homes refusing to accept new residents.

But Ms Fleming said “progress” had been made in this area and this was likely to improve further with new national guidance giving it a greater priority.

She urged the trusts’ employees to be “fastidious” with infection prevention and said they should be “extra enthusiastic” with handwashing.

“Scrupulous hand hygiene will reduce the risk of spreading the virus and will keep as many of us as possible healthy and well,” she said.

She said she was “moved by the courage, commitment and professionalism” of staff.