Sherwood Forest Trust boss apologises for no visitor rule as hospitals care for over 200 Covid-19 patients

Richard Mitchell of Sherwood Forest Hospitals which operates Mansfield Community Hospital, King’s Mill Hospital in Sutton and Newark Hospital, has issued an update confirming that the three hospitals are still caring for over 200 people who tested positive for Covid-19.

The Trust is currently treating more than twice the number of coronavirus patients than they did during the first lockdown last year, in the peak in April 2020.

Chief executive Richard Mitchell’s update on how the area’s three hospital sites are coping with the ongoing crisis, comes as Mansfield’s vaccination centre opened at a former Wickes DIY store on Chesterfield Road South today – alongside 31 other new sites across the country.

In a message posted to the Sherwood Forest Hospitals website, he said: “We continue to care for over 200 patients with Covid in our three hospitals every day.

"This is more than twice the number of patients in the peak in April 2020.

“I am sorry that we are still unable to accept visitors to our sites, as I recognise this impacts on patients and their friends and families.

"It is important we take all possible steps to reduce the rate of Covid in our hospitals whilst ensuring we continue to provide compassionate care.”

To support patients while they are unable to receive visits from their loved ones, the hospital trust has launched a new family liaison service to help them stay connected.

"We have introduced a new family liaison service to support patients to be able to make video and phone calls and to pass on messages when those calls are not possible.

"This service is run by hospital colleagues who have volunteered their time.

"You can email the service at [email protected] and we will be sharing a phone number across social media and on our website in the next couple of days.”

Sherwood Forest Hospitals also opened their doors to the BBC last week, where they filmed the reality of how staff are caring for patients throughout the pandemic which should be shown on BBC News at 6pm and 10pm tomorrow, alongside BBC Breakfast.

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