Isolation hospitals

50 / 60 years ago I remember isolation hospitals such as hairmyres killearn and law hospital for serious infectious diseases. Only patients who were infected were hospitalised in these hospitals.
Can the temporary hospital at the secc in Glasgow not be used for this and allow other hospitals to go back to normal use.
The hotels at the secc could also be used to accommodate nhs staff working at the hospital.

Why the contribution is important

Contains those infected in one place with experts.
Would also help confidence in people who need to go to hospital but are maybe frightened to do so.

by Gordon on May 05, 2020 at 01:15PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.9
Based on: 13 votes

Comments

  • Posted by consult1 May 05, 2020 at 14:15

    Rather than isolating with family, this may be a good idea to reduce transmission rates.

  • Posted by lizb May 05, 2020 at 14:50

    I agree. Infectious diseases should not be treated in general hospitals. Even if there are separate buildings, there will still be shared facilities and services that staff will use - thus risks spreading the disease. The City Hospital in Edinburgh was used for this purpose but now closed. There should be testing, tracing and quarantine (not isolation) in future. Can we be assured that the Scottish Govt is capable of doing this efficiently given y comments below?

    The Scottish Govt and Public Health Scotland have failed badly in their handling of this. In a country this size - geographically and population - we failed to test and trace - the proven way to control disease. The lockdown is a blunt and cruel instrument. The cure will work out worse than the disease if we don't get back to a new normal now with appropriate risk assessments.

    What was done years ago with a myriad of infectious diseases to cope with? It seems fear has overtaken pragmatism. 24 hours news, updates, constant information has put a ridiculous amount of fear and anxiety into the community. You will now have to convince a good proportion of the population it is safe to go back to work and education.

    The FM purports to treat us like adults but the threat of being 'kept in' if we don't behave is ever present. Apply what Sweden has done - spell out the dangers, give advice and show us what to do to minimise transmission but let us get on with life. Trust us - most will do their own personal risk assessment and behave sensibly. Why should policy be dictated by the fact that some people can't be trusted when the majority can.

    We have not done enough in the past few decades to highlight how dangerous illness like flu can be and how good hygiene is so important. And, what the death toll has been in 'normal' flu epidemics.

     

  • Posted by Doug May 05, 2020 at 18:52

    I agree with isolated infectious hospitals. We did not have the capacity to do the testing we needed at the start. 3 years of self harm brexit has shown the neglect of many of our services. Allowing 18million people into Uk by air/sea etc from Jan 99%, when there was knowledge of the virus is scandalous.
    Policy should be dictated to save lives. The people who cant be trusted are the people who will prolong this necessary lockdown. Indeed, a horendous death toll from flu and thats with a vaccine.
    Do you think covid19 will just dissapear?
    We are lucky our FM is firstly concerned about lives lost, and of course realizes the importance of our economy. You need a healthy population to have a healthy economy.

  • Posted by JMack May 11, 2020 at 13:53

    It is possible that the Louisa Jordan Hospital could play a role in early treatment and surveillance of Covid-19 patients as outlined in my earlier suggestion: "The Benefits of Early Health Interventions for Suspected Covid-19 Cases"

    As Covid-19 testing capability builds in Scotland, the opportunity to take a more proactive, early intervention approach to the illness opens up. As our understanding of the virus grows, it seems clear that through “silent hypoxia” and hidden damage to vital organs, many Covid patients are, in fact, very ill by the time they call 111 and are subsequently admitted to hospital, putting intense pressure on high-intensity medical services up to and including intensive care. I suggest that the Government and NHS in Scotland now gives active consideration to much earlier and closer medical intervention along the lines of the process that has operated in Germany. The following illustrative quote is from the Byline Times, 4th April:

    “Another reason why Germany has managed to limit the mortality rates is because of huge coordinated community engagement and outreach programme that helps to limit the spread of the disease within the cases of early mild and moderate symptoms. Germany set up a programme of ‘corona taxis’ – where doctors outfitted in protective gear, travel around their local communities to check on patients who are at home, a week into being sick with the coronavirus. They take a blood test from the patient, looking for signs that the patient is about to go into symptom decline. They then often suggest early hospitalisation, or offer medication to patients who have mild or moderate symptoms; therefore increasing the likelihood of minimising patient deterioration in the earlier stages of symptoms and improving the chances of surviving before any rapid infection decline by being in a hospital when symptoms begin.”
    Why the contribution is important
    1. The suggestion may be a significant contribution to saving lives.
    2. There may be improved health outcomes in terms of chronic health conditions arising from the virus. This is clearly good for the people affected, and good for the best use of NHS resources in the longer term.
    3. Once more people are back at work, enabling Covid sufferers to return to good health more quickly, and with less chronic secondary illness, will have beneficial effects for the Scottish economy.
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