March 23, 2020 3.36 pm This story is over 48 months old

Routine elective surgery postponed at Lincolnshire’s hospitals

Patients will be informed

All routine elective surgeries at Lincolnshire’s hospitals will be postponed from tomorrow (March 24) in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

From tomorrow, all day case and elective surgery at Lincoln County Hospital, Boston Pilgrim Hospital and Grantham and District Hospital will be cancelled.

However, the measure does not include cancer surgery or other clinically urgent cases.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust said the move will help to free up staff to care for patients in other areas.

You can follow live updates on coronavirus from around Lincoln and Lincolnshire in our live blog.

Photo: Getty

A spokesperson for the trust said patients affected will be contacted directly to inform them of the cancellations.

It comes as hospitals in the county have suspended visitors from all wards in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The measure, introduced with immediate effect by United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, has been put in place to protect staff and patients.

14 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Lincolnshire. This is in addition to two cases in North Lincolnshire and one case in North East Lincolnshire.

Hospital bosses also confirmed that two cases of COVID-19 were being treated at Boston Pilgrim and one at Lincoln County Hospital.

As of Sunday, March 22, the number of positive cases in the UK went up to 5,683, with at least 281 dead.

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