A WOMAN has hit out at Bradford Royal Infirmary after she claimed a patient who was awaiting a Covid-19 test result was brought on to a surgical ward.

Patricia Reynolds, 66, of Bradford, who had undergone surgery on her leg and was on surgical Ward 26 with another patient, told the T&A about her anger when she said a patient who was awaiting a Covid test result was admitted to her ward.

Miss Reynolds claimed that the patient spent a total of four hours on the ward and during that time the test result came back positive and she was eventually transferred to Ward 29, a Covid ward.

Hospital chiefs pointed out that keeping patients safe is “ always top priority” and said they take “every precaution” to prevent patients without symptoms being in contact with people who have tested positive, with all patients “swabbed regularly” throughout their stay.

Miss Reynolds said: "I can't understand why BRI brought this person on to this ward when they hadn't got a test result back.

"She was put into a four-bed bay room with two elderly extremely vulnerable patients.

"She was told she had tested positive for Covid and later she was moved to a Covid ward.

"Why on earth was she moved to other ward before they got her test result?

"I am absolutely furious that I've been put in a compromised position. I know they're up against it with Covid."

Miss Reynolds said she and the other patient on the ward were eventually given masks to wear.

She also said she and the other elderly patient on the ward had underlying health conditions.

She said: "They shouldn't have brought someone in when we're shielding.

"The other lady and I were put in a situation where we had to self isolate and keep our fingers crossed we didn't get it.

"I was thinking that I would dare not leave the hospital in case I had Covid."

Miss Reynolds was also very concerned when she developed a spike in temperature.

She was tested for Covid and she said fortunately the result came back negative.

However, because they had been in close contact, she and the other patient had to self-isolate.

Miss Reynolds said: "So now we're stuck in a four-bed bay room and we can't go out to have a shower or go to the toilet because we're self-isolating.

"This is disgrace putting people at risk who don't deserve it.

"I'd at least like an apology."

The T&A put Miss Reynolds’ account of events to Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs BRI.

In response, Karen Dawber, chief nurse at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Any patient can develop signs and symptoms of coronavirus, if this is the case we move the patient to the most suitable ward.

"Ward 26 is a surgical ward and we would not knowingly look after a confirmed coronavirus patient in this area.

"We take every precaution to prevent patients without symptoms from coming into contact with those who have tested positive for coronavirus and, as an additional precaution, all patients are swabbed regularly during the duration of their time with us.

"Everyone’s health and wellbeing and keeping patients safe is always our top priority."