HEALTH chiefs are working around the clock to make sure Worcestershire has the capacity to deal with coronavirus.
That’s the message from Redditch MP Rachel Maclean after a conference call between the county’s MPs, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG.
Bed capacity, personal protection equipment for staff and increasing staff testing were among the items discussed.
And what came out, said Mrs Maclean, was that local hospitals have the capacity to cope with coronavirus.
Positive message: Rachel Mclean MP.
“I’m encouraged and reassured by the herculean planning efforts undertaken by health bosses to ensure Worcestershire has the capacity to cope with the expected peak in coronavirus cases,” she said.
“They’re working around the clock to ensure we’re prepared.
“I was pleased to hear that staff testing has been significantly ramped up.
“This will ensure staff who are currently self-isolating can return to work safe in the knowledge they do not have the virus.
“We’re also all well aware that there has been a strain on the distribution of personal protection equipment, but I’m assured staff working in our county’s hospitals have the PPE they need and where issues do arise health bosses are acting quickly to resolve them.”
She added that health bosses had also emphasised the crucial need for people to follow the Government’s social distancing guidelines.
“There is no point clapping for our carers each Thursday if you’re not going to follow the Government’s social distancing instructions,” said Mrs Maclean.
“The single most important thing all of us can do is to follow these instructions.
“Not only are these measures in place to protect you, they’re in place to protect our NHS to ensure it is there for people in their time of need.”
