Elderly patient with coronavirus dies at Lymington hospital

AN elderly woman has died at Lymington New Forest Hospital after contracting coronavirus, officials have confirmed.

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital at Ampress, did not reveal the woman’s identity but the family has been told.

Dr Karl Marlowe, chief medical officer at the trust, said in a statement: “Sadly we can confirm that one elderly patient who was being cared for at Lymington hospital and had Covid-19 has died.

“We have informed the family and our thoughts and condolences are with them at this difficult and distressing time.”

The news comes as the latest figures released by the government as of Sunday revealed there have been a total of 19,522 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and 1,228 deaths.

With 432 cases confirmed in the Hampshire County Council area, it has the second highest amount of recorded cases behind Birmingham with 513.

There have been 34 in the area covered by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, 43 cases in Southampton, and 36 in the Dorset Council region.

Over the past few days there have been repeated calls for people to adhere to the social distancing and isolation guidelines the government has issued.

Lead clinician at Lymington hospital, Dr Rachel Anderson, told the A&T that people following the guidelines would save lives and help the hospital and its staff cope with the outbreak.

On Friday Hampshire police reminded residents that by sunbathing in public areas and going on coastal walks along Barton and Milford clifftops they were “putting lives at risk”.

Authorities also urged people not to travel into the New Forest for walks. As reported in the A&T, campsites and major car parks have been shut by Forestry England.

However, over the weekend further social media posts by Hampshire police thanked residents for staying at home as streets largely remained empty.