83 Covid cases caught at Wolverhampton hospital sites in last nine months

Data presented to the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust's board meeting showed 83 cases were thought to have been caught in healthcare settings at sites run by the trust in recent months.

Meanwhile nine hospital staff tested positive for the virus between December 10 to December 24 after a staff outing, resulting in a ward being deep cleaned over Christmas.

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust runs New Cross Hospital and Cannock Chase Hospital.

Of the 83 "healthcare-acquired cases", three were in April, one in May, two in June, none in July, 48 in August, two in September, seven in October, four in November and 16 in December.

The figures include probable "healthcare-acquired cases" – eight days from admission – and "definite healthcare-acquired cases", which means 14 days onwards, the report said.

Meanwhile there were a series of Covid-19 outbreaks in healthcare settings, with staff or patients testing positive, including at New Cross Hospital wards in various cases.

As well as the nine staff infected after a Christmas event, two hospital staff tested positive on December 13. And two patients tested positive in healthcare-acquired cases cases with one on December 16 and another five days later.

Five staff at Penn Manor GP practice tested positive on December 21 last year which resulted in the surgery being closed and deep cleaned, the report said.

Meanwhile Joanna Macve, from the trust, said the healthcare trust is now starting to see inpatient numbers falling in line with case rates locally.

The report added: "The annual flu campaign commenced September 21 (2021). As of January 13, 2022, 58.42 per cent of RWT staff have received the vaccine.

"To date there have been no identified cases of influenza; a rapid testing platform is available for influenza testing in suspected cases."