Hospital stepping up coronavirus preparations
A hospital trust is ramping up preparations in order to deal with the coronavirus.
Bosses at Sandwell's NHS trust are considering contingency measures to ensure its two hospitals are prepared in the event of a severe outbreak in the region.
Chief executive Toby Lewis said this included potentially bringing in "more side and isolation rooms".
It comes as the first cornavirus cases were confirmed in Staffordshire.
Mr Lewis, boss of the trust which runs Sandwell and Birmingham City hospitals, said: "COVID-19 has been a significant feature of trust work, management assurance and clinical effort over recent weeks.
"The organisation is compliant with national guidance, and has in place the relevant PODs (points of delivery) and other infrastructure. We continue to work with both our local authorities, PHE (Public Health England) and primary care partners.
"Of course there is a role to ensure our staff know what to do clinically and also if they themselves have symptoms.
"We are also exploring contingency measures should we need to bring into use more side and isolation rooms in spring. I must emphasise that these are readiness measures, as current mortality rates from this virus are relatively small."
