Surgeries have been cancelled and emergency admissions heavily restricted at a hospital in the Outer Hebrides following an outbreak of Covid-19 on two wards.
Bosses at Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway apologised to patients amid the introduction of measures in order to curb the spread of the condition.
Dozens of pre-arranged procedures have been postponed after the surgical ward and medical ward two were closed after a surge in confirmed cases.
Visiting access has also been tightened to allow for “essential” visitors only, with lateral flow tests mandatory prior to arrival.
Protocols are to be reviewed in 48 hours, a spokesperson for the NHS Western Isles health board said.
They added: “As a result of now more than one outbreak of Covid-19 cases within the hospital, NHS Western Isles has taken the difficult decision to temporarily restrict visiting across the hospital to essential visiting only.
“This will be reviewed in 48 hours. We would like to apologise for the disappointment and inconvenience this may cause, however it is considered necessary in the circumstances to protect vulnerable patients in hospital and to protect the ongoing provision of services.”
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