Fears after 86-year-old with broken hip put on Covid 19 ward at Kings Mill hospital

But the ‘Outstanding’ rated Kings Mill hospital has defended itself saying it takes infection controls “extremely seriously.”

LesleyAnn Thompson’s mother Edna Emmerson, from Boughton, fell and broke her hip on Christmas day. The great grandmother was admitted to trauma Ward 12 on December 26.

According to LesleyAnn her mum tested negative for the virus on December 28. The next day, she says she was told the ward was closed due to a Covid 19 outbreak.

LesleyAnn, 59, said: “I asked if Covid positive patients were isolated and was told they were at the end of Ward 12 in a bay.

“I wanted to know why infected patients were not in isolation to safeguard vulnerable patients and was told they were ‘following their infection control protocols.’

“They are signed off by CEO Richard Mitchell. Would he want with his elderly mother sharing a ward with Covid19 patients? Someone needs to shout from rooftops about this shambolic, idiotic infection control protocol.”

“They have private rooms, why don’t they use them or the Nightingale Hospital? My mum’s a frightened little old lady.”

Chief Nurse at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, Julie Hogg, said: “We take infection control very seriously at Sherwood Forest Hospitals and we would like to reassure Ms Thompson and her mother that we isolate patientswho tests positive for Covid-19.

"This is in a side room or a contained bay with other positive patients, so they are not mixing with other patients. Our team follows all national infection control guidance, wearing gloves, aprons, masks and sanitising hands before and after treating every patient.

“We strive to provide patients with the care we would want our friends and family to receive and would like to reassure Ms Thompson that although her mother may have been on the same ward with Covid-19 infected patients, she would not have been in the same bay and our infection control measures would have ensured her safety at all times. We wish Ms Thompson’s mother all the very best in her recovery.”