More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A hospital has set up isolation pods and a separate entrance for suspected coronavirus patients in a bid to reduce the risk of the killer virus spreading.
Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham has installed the rooms to help ease pressure on its A&E department and isolate people who might have the illness.
The hospital in Windmill Road has set up an alternative way in for people arriving there who think they may have contracted the deadly virus.
All hospitals are being urged to put in place the special areas so that people who attend hospital with the symptoms – which include fevers, coughs and breathing difficulties – can be separated from other patients.
Medway NHS Foundation Trust says measures in place are in line with national guidance to protect patients, staff and hospital visitors against coronavirus – known officially as the COVID-19 virus.
Hospital bosses say there are "robust infection control procedures" activated at the hospital to react to a potential outbreak or person presenting themselves with the virus.
Deep cleaning areas of the hospital have also been set up and people are advised to contact NHS helpline on 111 and not to attend A&E or GP surgeries if they have concerns they might have been exposed to the virus unless they are seriously ill.
The trust also said it was unable to comment on any suspected cases and urged members of the public to follow the guidelines about visiting a doctor or hospital.
So far, nine cases of people being tested as positive for coronavirus have been confirmed out of 4,501 tests in the UK. None of the positive results have been in Kent.
The risk to the public, as advised by the Chief Medical Officer, is currently at moderate.
Health officials plan to use 24 NHS hospitals to treat patients should the numbers increase, according to a report in the Sunday Times.
The government is working on plans to deal with the event of half the population contracting the virus.
Health secretary Matt Hancock insisted the NHS is well prepared to deal with a major outbreak in Britain.
"Following national guidance all hospitals are putting in place NHS 111 pods"
But Medway NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed it is not one of the 24 hospitals.
An NHS spokesman said: “Following national guidance all hospitals are putting in place NHS 111 pods, so that anyone attending hospital with symptoms of the virus can be kept isolated from other patients and avoid causing unnecessary pressure in A&E.
“Over the coming weeks many more of us may need to self-isolate at home for a period to reduce this virus's spread.
"Everyone can continue to play their part by taking simple steps such as washing hands to prevent the spread of infection and calling NHS 111 first before going to the doctors or A&E if they have any concerns about or show symptoms of coronavirus.”
Last week, one person was put in isolation over fears they had coronavirus at Buckland Hospital in Dover.
The death toll in mainland China currently stands at 1,770.
