This is what Helgeland Hospital HF writes in a press release on Saturday morning.
“Currently, it has been revealed that few patients at the hospital have been in close contact with the substitute nurse who has been shown to be coronary infected, so that the number of patients who need to be isolated is reduced from 15 to six.
In addition, 16 employees are currently assessed as potentially infected. They tested according to the routines that are available, that is, test the third and seventh day after the last exposure. They are also monitored for symptoms and will be isolated if symptoms of illness occur.
Mapping patients and staff
The Helgeland Hospital is now intensively mapping both patients and staff who may have been exposed to infection during the past week when the temporary nurse was working in the hospital in Sandnessjøen.
Until the situation is resolved, all patients requiring hospitalization will be transported to the hospital in Mo i Rana and the hospital in Mosjøen. Patients should normally refer to the emergency room and telephone 113.
The temporary nurse from Sweden who has tested positive for coronary infection came to the hospital in Sandnessjøen on Monday this week. He has not worked at the hospital before.
The procedures of the Helgeland Hospital for the testing of health personnel that are hired indicate that the personnel can begin work before the results of the test are available. Helgeland Hospital has established this exemption option in its routines in consultation with Helse Nord. The background is the need for hired personnel to maintain operations. Where possible, answers to tests should be available before the healthcare professional begins work.
Prior to the start of the work, however, a thorough risk assessment and tracking of personnel is made. It is an absolute requirement that the personnel be symptom free.
Besøksstans i Sandnessjøen
As a result of the infection situation at the hospital in Sandnessjøen, the possibility of visiting relatives has been temporarily halted. This applies for the time being until Saturday evening, when a new assessment of the situation will be made. The Helgeland Hospital maintains green preparedness, but the level of preparedness is assessed on an ongoing basis. “
