Doncaster hospital bosses fear they may not be able to restore Montagu Hospital to previous 'Covid free' status

The site in Mexborough had been designated a ‘blue’ area – part of the hospital only used by people who tested negative for the coronavirus. It was clear of Covid through the first wave of cases in the spring.

But the site reported its first cases last week when four were recorded.

A spokesman for the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals said: “While our ambition would always be to bring it back to being a-non covid area, we now have higher numbers in the community with the virus than in the first wave, so it may prove challenging. As before, we will not admit any additional patients to this site who have tested positive for Covid-19.”

All Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals buildings have been divided into ‘blue’ and ‘yellow’ areas. The blue areas are for patients who have tested negative for the virus and are Covid clear. The yellow areas are for patients who have not had test results or have covid. Patients are kept isolated until tests have been carried out and results known.

Until a week ago, the whole of the Montagu was classed ‘blue’ – now separate blue and yellow areas have been set up in the hospital which carries out surgery and rehab work.

Dr David Crichton, chairman of the Doncaster NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, said high numbers of Covid patients affected beds available for other NHS work such as operations.

“If it continues to rise, it will affect planned care,” he said. “The hospitals are trying to manage the sites to keep some of them clear of Covid so that they can continue to do what they need to do for operations. The NHS position is we’ve got to respond to Covid but do as much normal business as we can so we can keep going with things like cancer treatment or emergency care.

“I would call on everyone in Doncaster to play the role they have from the start, through regular hand washing, social distancing and wearing a mask when out and about.

“These are still the measures we can take to stop it passing from person to person.”

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