Ward at 'super hospital' closed due to coronavirus outbreak

Glasgow’s ‘super hospital’ is on high alert following an outbreak of coronavirus.

A ward at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital has now been closed to new patients after a number of people linked to the unit tested positive for Covid-19.

The health board said all those affected have been contact traced, screened and are self-isolating.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) also said Covid-19 control measures have been put in place to stem the spread of the deadly virus.

In a statement, NHSGGC said: “We have a number of positive cases in a ward at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and staff are working extremely hard to ensure the appropriate measures have been implemented to minimise the spread of the virus.

“This includes the temporary closure of the ward to new admissions and other Covid-19 control measures.

“All those affected have been contact traced, screened and are self-isolating. All asymptomatic contact patients are being cared for separately from the confirmed cases.

“In the meantime our staff continue to follow strict infection prevention and control guidelines to ensure we’re able to continue treating our patients without putting them at additional risk due to Covid-19.”

Meanwhile, NHS Lothian is also investigating a deadly outbreak of coronavirus within a cancer ward at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.

On Friday, the health board said a small number of patients – fewer than five – had died after testing positive for the virus.

Due to six other patients testing positive for Covid-19, the oncology ward was closed to new admissions and discharges whilst investigations got under way and to allow for tests to be carried out.

A multi-disciplinary Incident Management Team (IMT) has been set up and a series of “robust and enhanced” infection control measures have been put in place across the ward.