STAFF absences at Warrington Hospital remained low – even in the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Warrington Hospital bosses have been updating councillors at Warrington Borough Council on how they coped with the peak of the Covid-19 outbreak.

A report send to councillors said staffing remained at a 'safe level' throughout the pandemic, peaking at just more than 17 per cent.

Critical care capacity (including ventilator capacity) peaked at 24 patients with Covid-19 in critical care occurred on April 8 and the report said clinicians have been working outside of their professional capabilities.

However staff were redeployed to support the trust’s response.

The hospital reduced its elective activity to only Cancer Fast Track (CFT) and clinically urgent cases.

To support these cases safely, the hospital used three theatres for five days per week at Spire Warrington in Stretton under a

national contract, beginning on April 3. This arrangement will continue until the end of August.

Elective theatre activity resumed at Halton at the end of June.

The report said: "Over the next three to six months, WHH will continue to reinstate activity.

"This will be in line with national guidance and enacted only where clinically safe to do

so. Additionally, the trust remains prepared to respond in the case of a second peak of infections.

"The impact of virtual clinics and other technological innovations will be reflected in the planning of new hospital infrastructure, both in Warrington and Halton.

"Feedback from staff and patients has been positive for these developments, and they have been essential in keeping patients safe.

"The trust is advancing plans to develop CMTC in Halton as an elective hub.

"This will be a “Covid-19 light” site, enabling additional elective activity to take place on this site.

"To minimise the impact of Covid-19 on elective hospital activity, WHH will expand opportunities to develop “Covid-19 light” sites. This increasingly will include the maximisation of opportunities to deliver services in community settings where appropriate (in line with NHS Long Term Plan).

"WHH will continue to work with partners to manage demand across a wider geography, and this will become increasingly important in a post-Covid-19 landscape as capacity is impacted by new ways of working."