ADMISSIONS to Poole Hospital’s acute cancer unit had to be suspended for four days because of ‘capacity constraints across the whole trust,’ health officials have confirmed.

While the pandemic continues to place a huge strain on the NHS, a dozen cancer patients had to be diverted to the hospital’s emergency department until services were able to continue as normal at the Dorset Cancer Centre.

Meanwhile, Poole Hospital has also confirmed a small number of staff working at its breast screening unit have tested positive for Covid-19.

In a statement released to the Daily Echo on Friday, October 23, Paula Shobbrook, chief nursing officer at University Hospitals Dorset, said: “Due to capacity constraints across the whole trust, and in line with our infection prevention and control policies, the decision was made to temporarily close direct admissions to the oncology assessment unit last week.

“We continued to provide a hotline service, to help avoid admission where possible, with emergency admissions supported by our specialist teams seeing and treating our patients in the hospital.

“This service is now running as normal in the Dorset Cancer Centre as the changes were temporary to manage the situation at the time.”

Furthermore, two wards at the hospital have closed due to confirmed coronavirus cases. Visiting was restricted on the Kimmeridge and Lytchett wards, the hospital confirmed.

The Kimmeridge ward is a short stay ward specialising in caring for older patients who are expected to need a hospital stay of around three to five days. The Lytchett ward is a general ward, part of the department of medicine for the elderly.

A spokesperson said: “Visiting is restricted in these areas and to isolated patients who are receiving treatment for Covid-19.

“Covid-19 is highly infectious, so restricting visitors helps us to prevent further people becoming infected.

“Also, by reducing the number of people within the ward, our ward staff can focus on the extra needs of the patients and undertake additional cleaning during this time. We understand closing wards to visitors may cause additional distress and our staff will help family and friends stay in touch with their loved ones through alternative means.”