Three wards at Raigmore Hospital closed by Covid and scabies outbreaks; with Covid also impacting inpatient wards in Wick and Golspie
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Three wards at Raigmore Hospital are either closed or closed to new admissions after outbreaks of Covid-19 and scabies, NHS Highland has confirmed.
In a statement to the Inverness Courier this morning, they said that three of the wards had been closed "due to incidence of Covid among patients and staff".
One of them, Ward 6C, was shut new admissions after scabies was identified among "a very small number of patients".
Covid has also been impacting hospitals in Caithness and Sutherland – with the inpatient wards in Wick Town and County, and the Lawson Memorial in Golspie, closed due to the virus.
News of these added pressures on NHS Highland hospital services comes just hours after the health board was forced to cancel some operations at Raigmore Hospital after a "significant number" of new patients put pressure on "an already pressured system".
Related: Raigmore Hospital in Inverness cancels operations to deal with emergencies
It is unclear if these outbreaks of Covid and scabies have played a role in that announcement or heightened pressure.
In a statement, an NHS Highland spokesman said: "We have identified a very small number of patients who have been diagnosed with scabies on Ward 6C [at Raigmore]. Infection control measures are in place and, while the ward is closed to new admissions, care is continuing as normal."
The spokesman added: "Covid has not gone away and we are seeing its impact on our hospital services. We currently have three wards at Raigmore Hospital, and the inpatient wards in Wick Town and County, and Lawson Memorial closed due to incidence of Covid amongst patients and staff.
"Infection control measures are in place and care is continuing as normal.
"We would ask everyone to please keep doing the things that protect you and your loved ones. If you have symptoms and are not well enough to carry out daily activities, or have a fever, you should stay home.
"Please do not visit any of our hospital or social care settings if you are unwell."
