Response to Covid-19 outbreak at small hospital praised

A coronavirus outbreak hit Biggart Hospital in Prestwick during the pandemic, a health report has revealed.
Two wards at the hospital for elderly people were gripped by the deadly virus during March and April.
A total of 10 patients and an undisclosed number of staff were infected.
It is not known how many people in the Biggart died as a result.
Employees at the hospital have been praised for the “amazing job” they carried out to contain the spread.
Nurse director Professor Hazel Borland, of NHS Ayrshire & Arran said: “During March and April 2020, an outbreak of Covid-19 affected two wards at Biggart Hospital in Prestwick.
“A total of 10 patients and a small number of staff connected to the wards were diagnosed with Covid-19.”
Professor Borland added: “These confirmed cases were managed in line with National Infection Control Guidance and reported to Health Protection Scotland. The wards have since returned to normal working.”
The hospital’s Buchanan ward is on standby for patients with coronavirus but it was not needed during the crisis.
A report presented to the South Ayrshire Integration Joint Board said: “Biggart Community Hospital experienced an outbreak of Covid-19 in the early weeks of the pandemic.
“Staff at the hospital have done an amazing job of containing the outbreak to two rooms within two wards.”
A quarter of patients in the hospital are waiting to be discharged to a care home according to the Covid-19 Mobilisation Plan, Phase 2 report.
The report was presented to the Integration Joint Board, which oversees health and social care last week.