'Urgent' need for more coronavirus testing with 500 staff unable to work at Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Up to 500 staff at Chesterfield Royal Hospital are currently unable to work because of coronavirus – prompting further calls for more testing of NHS workers.
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It is believed many would be able to return to frontline work if tests could confirm they were not currently infected with Covid-19.

The figures were revealed by Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins after his regular briefings with bosses at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

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“About 500 staff are absent due to the coronavirus either because they are shielding in line with public health advice, isolating with the household or because they are actually ill,” the Labour MP said.

Chesterfield Royal Hospital.Chesterfield Royal Hospital.
Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

“The need for increased testing capacity is urgent. Many of the 500 staff members currently absent could return to work if they knew that they were not currently infected. It is likely that many of them will not currently have the virus.

“Testing has been slow to get up to capacity and is a couple of weeks behind where it should have been but recent steps have seen a welcome increase in testing capacity.

“Currently around 15 tests can be done on staff members everyday, but with 500 absent and around 4,000 employees employed in the trust it is a long way below the ideal amount.”

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There are now 62 confirmed cases of Covid-19 at the Royal, and sadly 15 people have died.

Six ventilated beds are in use, and there is capacity to care for 22 patients right now, with plans for another 10 to be in place when required.

Mr Perkins said: “It is clear that the national issues – testing, PPE, ventilators and staff absences due to lack of testing are also affecting us locally.

“It is also clear that many frontline NHS workers are showing amazing dedication, that their workload will only increase and that most likely the next few weeks will be physically, emotionally and professionally exhausting for all of them.”

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A spokesperson for Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “Every one of our 4,300 staff is working incredibly hard in unprecedented and challenging circumstances - and we are doing all we can to keep them safe, well and protected.

“Like other hospitals across the country we have staff affected by COVID-19 - including those shielding due to long-term health conditions and people in self or household isolation.

“Many of these are home working, supporting the trust with a range of tasks that can be done remotely; and as part of the Midlands East 2 pathology network we are working with other hospitals to increase testing in line with the new national programme, which will potentially enable more staff to return to work.

“However, our absence rate has not affected our ability to meet safe staffing levels and people are working flexibly as part of our COVID-19 critical incident response.

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“We are incredibly proud of our hospital, community and primary care teams and their commitment to our patients and services.”

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