Hinckley’s dedicated ward helps Covid-19 patients

One of Hinckley and Bosworth Community Hospital’s wards has been dedicated to treating patients with the coronavirus.

East Ward was designated as a Covid-19 ward at the beginning of April. 

Extra staff were brought in from elsewhere in the local NHS, with additional training given to all staff. 

Up to 20 patients at a time are being treated on the ward.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust says the ward was chosen because it is one of the most modern of Leicestershire’s community hospitals, with piped oxygen and side patient rooms with ensuite facilities which helps reduce the chances of infection spreading.

Karen Smith, deputy sister said: “We have got a really good team, we gel together well. We feel more safe here than we do outside – we have all the preparations of the Covid virus, we have all the equipment we need, and we know our patients are Covid-positive.

“We have never had a problem with PPE. Everything is in place.

“We had some additions from Hinckley and District Hospital and from Health Visiting. It has been a learning curve for them but they have integrated well. We have been well supported, if we have any questions or worries there is always the senior team to back us up.”

Staff have had additional training on how to put on and take off their Personal Protective Equipment, and how to move patients safely.

Suzanna Birkin, therapy lead at the hospital, said: “A great deal of planning and preparation has gone into this. All the staff have pulled together really well. They are feeling confident and competent.

“We have had a lot of anxiety from patients, it has been quite challenging with the no-visit rule. We have been able to help patients keep in contact through video calls which has been really lovely.

“The patients who have been discharged are very grateful. We have had lots of cheers and applause as people leave the ward.”

Staff have also created a tree of hope, celebrating all the patients who have recovered and been discharged from the hospital, and have “beaten” Covid-19. Some of the patients have written messages of thanks, while the discharge dates of others have been recorded.