COUNTY health chief Matthew Hopkins has confirmed that hospital visiting hours have been restricted and operations reduced in a bid to protect NHS staff and the public from COVID-19.
The chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said all of the county’s hospitals are doing a ‘magnificent job’ in one of the ‘most challenging periods in NHS history’.
“It is important local people do everything they can to reduce the pressure on our hospitals by following the latest social distancing guidance and maintaining scrupulous hand hygiene,” he said.
“We have had to make very difficult decisions to protect the public and our staff from coronavirus, including reducing planned operations and restricting visiting hours.
“These restrictions will enable our staff to focus their full attention on caring for those patients who are most in need of urgent and emergency care.”
Mr Hopkins added he is grateful to local people for their compliance with government guidance.
“It will help save lives.”