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Addenbrooke’s Hospital says healthcare workers are among its Covid-19 patients as it tests staff seven days a week




Healthcare workers are among those being treated for Covid-19 at Addenbrooke’s.

Roland Sinker, pictured, chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals, confirmed staff were now being tested seven days a week.

Roland Sinker, chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals at Addenbrooke’s Treatment Centre in Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Roland Sinker, chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals at Addenbrooke’s Treatment Centre in Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell

“We are testing over and above the national requirements and our priority remains to ensure the safety and welfare of all staff,” he said.

The Cambridge hospital is benefitting from the use of SAMBA II machines, which can diagnose an infection within two hours. Ten of the machines, made by University of Cambridge spin-out Diagnostics for the Real World, were funded by a donation from businessman and philanthropist Sir Chris Hohn, while the trust purchased 10 more.

The hospital is also using a test developed by University of Cambridge researchers that can diagnose an infection in four hours.

Mr Sinker said: “We are also working closely with the University of Cambridge, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline to develop a high-volume national testing facility here on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus with the potential to process up to 30,000 tests per day by mid-May.”

The lab is being set up in the Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine to help meet the government target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April.

Mr Sinker confirmed on Monday that Addenbrooke’s had 128 patients with the virus, including 33 in critical care. More than 300 Covid-19 positive patients have been treated at the site since the pandemic began.

As of Wednesday (April 22), 51 of them had died, while 10 had died at neighbouring Royal Papworth Hospital.

“Our thoughts are with their loved ones and with our colleagues who have cared for them in the last days and hours of their lives,” said Mr Sinker.

D7 ward at Addenbrooke's. Picture: CUH (33831373)
D7 ward at Addenbrooke's. Picture: CUH (33831373)

Addenbrooke’s l has continued to see eight to 10 new cases a day over the past week, and Mr Sinker confirmed an “increasing number” of patients had been transferred from other hospitals under pressure.

“We are also acutely aware of the demands on other parts of the health and care system, including care homes, and we are working with the Clinical Commissioning Group and local authority to provide support where we can,” he said.

“In some parts of the country it appears that the number of new cases may have peaked. We cannot be sure yet whether that is the case in this region and indeed what the future holds, so we must continue to be prepared and respond accordingly.”

Plans for a regional surge centre on the Biomedical Campus, on land earmarked for the new children’s hospital and the new, rebuilt Addenbrooke’s, were still under consideration, he said.

Meanwhile, the hospital is planning to reopen some of its theatres for elective surgery, much of which had been postponed to create capacity at the hospital and train staff.

But Mr Sinker revealed: “Over the past week, our clinical and corporate teams have been working hard to identify how we can now safely reopen six of our theatres in the Addenbrooke’s Treatment Centre and start to increase the number of elective cases that we are able to treat, alongside continuing to care for our Covid-19 positive patients.

“Based on a comprehensive risk assessment process, we will prioritise the most urgent cases.”

The entrance to Addenbrooke’s. Picture: Keith Heppell
The entrance to Addenbrooke’s. Picture: Keith Heppell

Some Addenbrooke’s patients, meanwhile, are being treated in the independent sector.

Mr Sinker said the trust’s staff were making “significant progress” across 11 taskforces, and were working closely with the neighbouring Royal Papworth and other regional hospitals.

“Our staff continue to do amazing things to care for our patients and to support each other,” he said. “Not a day goes by when I don’t hear stories of the fantastic work they are all doing in such challenging circumstances.

“This applies equally to those who are working on site at Addenbrooke’s, the Rosie or one of our other locations, and those who are working from home. They are all playing a vital role as members of our CUH family, for which we are all very grateful.”

He also thanked the community for inundating the trust with good wishes, gifts, equipment and donations to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.

“It is truly overwhelming,” he said.


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