February 25, 2020 3.33 pm This story is over 48 months old

‘No treatment’ at bleak coronavirus pod behind bins outside Lincoln hospital

Hospital bosses are still building coronavirus facilities

The NHS has insisted that patients will never be treated in the coronavirus pod erected behind the bins at Lincoln County Hospital.

A ‘coronavirus pod’ was erected near the city’s accident and emergency department, but upon inspection patients were surprised to find what appeared to be a tent without any heating, staff, facilities or running water.

Anyone who steps inside will find a phone, a chair, and instructions telling people to call 111 if they suspect they have coronavirus rather than attend A&E, a GP surgery or a pharmacy.

NHS England has insisted that they will not be used for treatment and are only for those people who have not listened to advice about avoiding the hospital.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT) is also in the process of replacing the tent with a new modular building, which will be up and running by the end of this week.

So far, 13 people in the UK have now tested positive for the virus known as COVID-19.

It will be replaced with a more permanent structure this week. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

As previously reported, NHS hospitals in England were ordered to create secure areas for Coronavirus testing to “avoid a surge in emergency departments.”

According to the Grimsby Telegraph, a pod has already been set up in Grimsby’s Diana Princess of Wales Hospital. Two Scartho residents who run the local New Diamond takeaway are said to have voluntarily quarantined themselves after spending Chinese New Year in China.

Skegness hospital was previously reportedly on lockdown amid fears the virus had made its way to Lincolnshire. It later re-opened after fears of the Coronavirus were dismissed.

People in Lincoln received text messages earlier this month telling them not to visit their GP if they have returned from China within two weeks and were feeling unwell.

The University of Lincoln is offering support to staff and students with connections to China.

Advice for travellers

There have been more than 80,000 cases of the Covid-19 disease reported worldwide since it emerged last year. Around 2,700 patients have died, the vast majority in China.

In South Korea, infections have risen again. Italy and Iran are also battling to contain outbreaks of the virus.

Anyone who has returned from a trip to the following countries and is experiencing cough or fever or shortness of breath should stay indoors and call 111:

  • Mainland China,
  • Thailand,
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Hong Kong
  • Taiwan
  • Singapore
  • Malaysia
  • Macau
  • Iran
  • Lockdown areas in Northern Italy
  • Vietnam
  • Cambodia
  • Laos
  • Myanmar

The NHS said those countries have been highlighted because of the volume of air travel from affected areas, understanding of other travel routes and the number of reported cases.