'We're ready': Hospital staff reveal special coronavirus unit

A hospital in the health board where the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Scotland has given people a special look at an assessment unit treating patients during the epidemic.

Ninewells Hospital in Dundee is treating those who are unwell with either medical or surgical problems and also showing symptoms of coronavirus at the emergency department.

Patients are admitted via NHS 24 or by their GP rather than directly referred themselves, with the department redesigned to help treat people effectively while front-line NHS staff can still access other services in the hospital.

Dr Ronald Cook said: “The amount of hard work which has gone into creating this dedicated assessment unit is unprecedented.

'Hospital within a hospital': Covid-19 assessment unit. — ‘Hospital within a hospital’: Covid-19 assessment unit.

“The teamwork which has been seen over the last few weeks has been immense, with every single person working toward a common goal of providing the best care for the patients of Tayside.

“We know that there are going to be tough times ahead but patients can be reassured that we are prepared for this and are ready to provide the highest level of care for them and their families.”

‘We are prepared for this and are ready to provide the highest level of care for them and their families.’
Dr Ronald Cook

The clinical teams decided to give a preview of the unit to let people know what happens if they are to be admitted.

It comes almost a month after the first coronavirus case in Scotland was confirmed at NHS Tayside on Sunday March 1.

New patients will be taken to a single room to be tested for Covid-19 and if it is negative, they will move to one of the main hospital wards.

If they test positive they will move to one of the special wards to be cared for by a dedicated team of nurses, doctors and therapists.

Medical director Professor Peter Stonebridge said: “In recent weeks our teams have achieved things none of us would have thought possible in the time frame given.

“Patient pathways have been redrawn, entire units and wards have been created and the workforce has been deployed in an entirely different way.

“We want to thank everyone who has been involved in planning and delivering care during these uncertain times and to assure the people of Tayside that we are committed to maintaining the highest quality of care for all our patients.”