September 18, 2020 12.56 pm This story is over 42 months old

At least 400 Lincolnshire hospital staff had coronavirus

Only a few had problems getting a test

Some 400 health staff working in Greater Lincolnshire hospitals tested positive for COVID-19 so far, but figures may not include those who went to alternative testing sites such as at Lincolnshire Showground.

With a lot of testing done in house, local hospital trusts have been able to avoid the problem suffered by the general public of struggling to book coronavirus swab tests.

Thousands more took the antibody test, to show if they previously had COVID-19, showing many more had the virus without knowing.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Since ULHT started doing swabbing tests at the start of the pandemic 266 staff tested positive for COVID-19.

This was out of a total of 2,249 staff, with 66 swabs in the past month between August 17 and September 16.

540 family members were also tested. Of the 540 family members, 121 were tested within the past month.

6,300 had the antibody test, but none have been done in the last month as colleagues interested have already been tested.

In addition, 250 ULHT staff have been tested as part of the ongoing SIREN research study. The study is to understand whether prior infection with SARS-CoV2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) protects against future infection with the same virus.

ULHT confirmed there has been no issues for staff getting a COVID-19 swab test within the trust.

The trust said it is not aware of anyone currently off self-isolating that is waiting for a test. All of its staff and close contacts who are symptomatic are swabbed by the trust’s Occupational Health team in house.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust

A total of 2,111 staff and family members were tested at the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, which has its own lab for testing.

In total, 87 (4.1%) tested positive since testing began up until the evening of September 15.

The coronavirus antibody test was given to 6,420 people, with 590 (9.2%) testing positive.

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust

Since April, 152 swab tests have been recorded and a further 1,265 antibody tests.

There have been 43 positive tests for coronavirus since testing began.

Tracy Pilcher, Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust deputy chief executive and director of nursing, allied health professionals and operations, said: “We are aware of a small number of staff who have experienced difficulties in accessing swabbing tests for Covid-19 and we are continuing to provide support to these individuals as required.

“Staffing levels have not been impacted by absence caused by COVID-19 and I would like to reassure that we continue to provide care to those who need it across our services in Lincolnshire and Peterborough.”

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has had four staff members testing positive, and 11 self-isolating, according to its latest data as of September 15.