MORE than 2,000 coronavirus patients have been discharged from the University Hospitals Dorset.

UHD, responsible for the Royal Bournemouth and Poole hospitals, said it is seeing a reduction in hospital admissions.

Since the start of the pandemic, 2,099 patients who had coronavirus have been discharged home, while 708 people have died with the virus.

Dr Alyson O’Donnell, chief medical officer for University Hospitals Dorset, said: “Our hospitals are seeing a reduction in the number of patients admitted with Covid-19, in line with the reduction in cases seen in the community.

“While any reduction is encouraging, it is important that the public continues to play their vital role – observe the current guidance around the lockdown and practise social distancing in order to protect the NHS – as the risk of another rapid rise in cases has not gone away.

“Since the pandemic began we have discharged home just over 2,000 patients to continue their recovery.

“While every discharge is welcomed it should also be noted that, in the same period, just over 700 patients have sadly died and our thoughts continue to be with those families.”