Hazel Borland: Last News

Jennifer Wilson has been appointed as the new nurse director at NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Visiting restrictions at NHS Ayrshire & Arran facilities have been relaxed from today.

The public have been told to avoid Ayrshire's A&E departments unless they need to today.

Two wards at the hospital for elderly people were gripped by the deadly virus during March and April. A total of 10 patients and an undisclosed number of staff were infected.

Anyone visiting hospitals will be asked to wear a face covering from Monday, June 29.Following updated guidance from the World Health Organisation and the Scottish Government, NHS Ayrshire and Arran have announced they will ask everyone, including those attending appointments, to cover their face.Those who have contracted Covid-19 can pass the infection onto others before they develop symptoms, at the ‘pre-symptomatic’ stage, or in the absence of any symptoms at all, known as ‘asymptomatic’.By wearing a face covering this reduces the risk of transmitting the infection to others.Professor Hazel Borland, Nurse Director, explains: “Anyone visiting our hospitals will notice that staff in clinical areas – for example, wards or outpatient

A total of 59 patients discharged from hospital to North Ayrshire care homes were not tested for Covid-19 during the pandemic.Between March 10 and May 19 fewer than a third - 26 out of 85 people - who were sent from wards to nursing homes got the virus tests.So far in Ayrshire there have been 132 Covid-19 related deaths in care homes - latest figures show.Of those 47 took place in North Ayrshire.Tragically 22 residents have died of suspected or confirmed coronavirus at the Fullarton Care Home in Irvine.Nurse director Hazel Borland at the health board said: “Testing for Covid-19 has been available in Ayrshire and Arran for clinical diagnosis throughout the period of the Covid-19 pandemic."She added: “NHS Ayrshire and Arran has followed the