AN ISOLATION ward opens to patients today at Liverpool’s main hospital, to prevent the spread of hospital infections.

The ward at the Royal was visited by the Chief Nursing Officer for England Dame Christine Beasley yesterday and today will welcome its first admissions.

With 13 beds in single rooms, the ward is staffed by a dedicated team experienced in dealing with infectious diseases.

The new facility is the latest in a series of initiatives at the trust to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as the winter vomiting bug, Norovirus, C difficile and MRSA.

Dame Christine said: “Seeing a top quality ward like this, especially one that has been created so quickly, is fantastic.

“It’s great for patients in terms of facilities and great that staff have somewhere like this to work.

“I am delighted to be here in Liverpool and to officially declare this ward open.”

The isolation ward has been designed to eradicate cross infection, with negative pressure ventilation and the highest standards of hygiene, with care provided by specialist staff from all relevant teams – infectious diseases and medical microbiology; specialist services for older people; gastro enterology and surgical; and infection prevention and control.

Director of nursing, infection prevention and control, Diane Wake said: “We opened a cohort ward earlier this year, dedicated to the treatment of patients with C.diff. It led to a dramatic fall in the number of cases of C.diff and we are hoping for a similar effect with the isolation ward.”