Coronavirus: Scotland’s biggest hospital closes ward after outbreak

Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital forced into partial shutdown due to Covid-19 cases

Scotland's biggest hospital has been forced to close one of its wards after an outbreak of coronavirus among patients and staff.

Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital said there would be no new admissions to one of its wards after positive cases were confirmed.

The hospital did not immediately say how many cases had been identified or which ward the outbreak was affecting.

In a statement, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said: “We have a number of positive cases in a ward at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and staff are working extremely hard to ensure the appropriate measures have been implemented to minimise the spread of the virus.

“This includes the temporary closure of the ward to new admissions and other Covid-19 control measures.

“All those affected have been contact traced, screened and are self-isolating. All asymptomatic contact patients are being cared for separately from the confirmed cases.

“In the meantime our staff continue to follow strict infection prevention and control guidelines to ensure we’re able to continue treating our patients without putting them at additional risk due to Covid-19.”

Some 359 of Scotland’s 961 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours were in the NHSGGC area, Nicola Sturgeon announced on Monday.

The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, which is at the centre of a Covid-19 outbreak (PA)

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Donald Cameron said: "This is an extremely concerning development and my thoughts are with those patients and staff affected.

"The Scottish Government must take urgent action to prevent this outbreak spreading even further and ensure contract tracing systems are working as robustly as possible.

"Patients who rely on this flagship hospital must be reassured this is being investigated immediately."

Last month, staff in the hospital’s Medical High Dependency Unit also tested positive for the virus.

At least 10 nurses were reported to have been self-isolating after two positive cases were identified among staff on the ward.