The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is taking swift action to ensure continued high quality patient care and protection of the hospital’s staff given that the QEH has now recorded a total of 10 cases among staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Cases among staff members at the QEH have grown from four to 10 within the last week. The six additional staff members who were recently diagnosed come from various categories of staff and include four nurses, one general worker, and one maid.
In a “weekly update” to the hospital’s staff, which gave details on the situation, the Executive Chairperson, Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, assured the staff that there was no evidence that any other staff or patients had been infected.
The memo informed that a result of the new cases, appropriate action was being taken at every level of the hospital; established protocols and best practices were being followed and staff should remain vigilant with the use and wearing of PPE. The update cautioned that with increases of COVID cases in the country, the hospital should expect to be impacted.
The Executive Chairperson also assured staff that the hospital had planned for this eventuality. In preparation for a possible spike in cases, the QEH had acquired 7200 COVID antigen rapid tests for use in AED, Surgery and Medicine. She indicated that other measures to further increase safety and capacity were also being put in place and the staff would be informed of these shortly.
The hospital update revealed that patients were providing incorrect or misleading information to medical personnel when being assessed.
This situation requires a public education campaign to guide the public on the importance of giving accurate information and to reduce risks to members of staff. The memo spoke to the importance of the public understanding that Harrison Point and Blackman Gollop have the specialist staff and equipment to care for them when COVID may be suspected.
The memo to staff continued, “We are all cooperating as a team to keep each other and the patients under our care safe. So far we have. Thank you for your cooperation.”
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