Specialist infectious disease doctors at the RVI "switched from Covid to monkeypox at the drop of a hat", according to the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust medical director.
As it has a high consequence infectious diseases unit - one of very few around the UK - patients with monkeypox continue to be looked after in the city. At a meeting of the hospital trust's board, top medics reassured the public that the risk to patients, staff and visitors was "miniscule" and paid tribute to the work of the infectious diseases team - who have of course spent more than two years on the front line of the fight against Covid-19 too.
Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday, medical director Andy Welch explained the situation. He said: "The reason we are involved is because we have one of the two highly-specialised infectious disease units in the country. Our team have been fantastic. They've switched from Covid to monkeypox at the drop of a hat. However, it's important to say the risk to patients, staff and visitors is absolutely miniscule."
