The other day, while typing up patients’ records, a box kept appearing on my screen. It contained a list of questions to ask about travel history, or any contact with known cases of coronavirus – the new respiratory pathogen currently causing worldwide consternation. GP computer systems are slick at this sort of thing: the word “fever” automatically launches a sepsis screening tool. The coronavirus pop-up hasn’t returned since; I suspect it is in development and was being trialled. But it illustrates the preparation going on throughout the health system to meet this potential new challenge.
At time of writing, the UK has eight confirmed cases of the virus, known as Covid-19. All appear to have acquired the infection while abroad; the first instances of domestic person-to-person transmission will be a highly unwelcome development. The eight patients are being cared for within the UK’s network of high consequence infectious disease (HCID) units. But with limited numbers of these specialist isolation beds, the Department of Health has now designated Arrowe Park hospital in Wirral and Kents Hill Park conference centre in Milton Keynes as additional facilities. In declaring Covid-19 a “serious and imminent threat to public health”, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has given authorities the power to forcibly isolate people infected with the virus.
Content from our partners
