Frontline workers within Scotland’s largest health board are calling for people to heed current virus advice following a surge in case numbers.

Over 500 covid-19 positive patients are being treated in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) hospitals, prompting frontline staff to issue a plea to the public to help minimise new admissions.

There are currently 20 red wards within NHSGGC which are exclusively treating patients with covid-19. In line with government guidance, the health board has implemented red, amber and green patient pathways across sites to separate covid and non-covid patients and minimise the spread of the virus.

Some elective surgery as well as emergency, trauma and cancer surgery is continuing as normal during tighter virus restrictions but as the number of admissions from covid continue, pressure is increasing substantially across the region’s hospitals.

Dr Scott Davidson, Deputy Medical Director for acute services at NHSGGC, said: “Numbers are continuing to rise across Scotland and Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been the worst affected region in the country.

“It is absolutely critical the public follows the guidelines to ensure that our staff are able to continue effectively managing and treating both covid and non-covid patients.

“During this time we are maintaining a programme of elective surgery but this also means that we are currently looking after more patients than ever before, so while the numbers of covid-19 patients may not yet have reached March’s peak levels, there is as much pressure on our staff across services.”

To help stop the spread of virus, members of the public are to attend hospital appointments alone, unless they fall into a specific support categories. For minor illnesses and ailments, Scots are encouraged to use community health practices and pharmacies, as well as out-of-hours services by calling 111, and only attending an emergency department in an emergency.

Dr Davidson added: “We would like to remind the public of the current policies in relation to using health services, as minimising unnecessary footfall plays a huge role in preventing the spread of the virus, and allows our staff to focus on delivering the best care possible.”

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