A CARER is worried she may have contracted coronavirus after sitting on A&E seats at a Worcester hospital designated for Covid-19 patients, claiming there were no signs warning of the danger.

However, the chief executive of the hospital trust says there were ‘clear signs’ about restrictions on hospital visitors during the crisis.

The woman, who does not wish to be named, said she took her 87-year-old father to Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester on Monday because he was suffering from chest pains. The former civil servant, who had not registered a formal complaint with the trust, stressed that she had the greatest respect for NHS workers and was ‘full of admiration’ for them.However, sShe says she was confronted by a ‘rude’ security guard who told her the seats were for Covid-19 patients.

The 48-year-old, who is sole carer for her father, said: “Upon arrival at the A&E reception however I was asked to take a seat and await my father which I duly did. After a few seconds I was approached by a very rude gentleman who told me he was hospital security and asked if I had the coronavirus? I answered ‘no’ and was bluntly told that the seats I was sitting on were for coronavirus patients only.

“I said, ‘I am sorry I must have missed the sign instructing the public to this effect’ and asked if he could point it out to me. Apparently there were none. I asked how people would then be aware of this arrangement at which point he got quite argumentative and said it wasn’t his fault and that it was the hospital I should be complaining to.

“My main concern now is that I have sat in an area potentially occupied by coronavirus patients and could now be potentially infected myself and even worse could pass the virus on to my father.”

“Surely rather that sitting gazing into space this supposed security officer could locate a pen and a piece of paper to produce a sign alerting the public to their intended seating arrangements. This is a blatant disregard for the health of the public and as far as I can see puts us at even greater risk of catching the disease. Where is the common sense here? We have been in lockdown now for coming up to six weeks and the NHS can’t even produce some simple signage. I am shocked and disgusted.”

Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “To protect patients and our staff from the risk of infection, we have put in place a number of measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes restrictions on visitors accompanying patients into the hospital building, which we realise is a very difficult thing to ask but is necessary to help minimise any risks of infection. There are clear signs to this effect in the entrance to the Emergency Department (ED) at Worcestershire Royal and our security teams will also, quite rightly, approach anyone they see who is not a patient or a member of staff in the department and explain the restrictions to them.”

“In our ED we also have designated seating areas for patients who may require a swab. The patients will be guided to these seats, which are cleaned regularly, by a member of the ED clinical team.

“We apologise if the restrictions on visitors weren’t explained clearly to the lady who has contacted the Worcester News and if she would like to discuss her concerns in more detail we would encourage her to contact us directly so that we can provide her with further reassurance.”