NURSES at a mental health facility which takes patients from Powys were given specialised training to keep themselves and patients safe from coronavirus, as 20 cases were found in less than a month.

The Redwoods Centre near Shrewsbury saw 20 positive Covid-19 diagnoses between March 17 and April 10, with the youngest patient being just 18 years old, a report said.

Fiona Moore, Midlands Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust’s head of involvement and experience, said staff faced a particular challenge as body language and facial expressions are “difficult to convey” while wearing personal protective equipment.

Some patients, she added, were “not able to understand the need for isolation and social distancing”, with one reacting aggressively.

Her report will be discussed by the trust’s board when it meets virtually on Thursday, May 28.

“The Redwoods Centre serves the population of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Powys,” Ms Moore wrote.

“It experienced positive cases and went into lockdown very early on when coronavirus was first reported in the UK.

“Between March 17 and April 10 there were 20 positive cases.

“This meant the wards had to adapt very quickly and put measures in place. The youngest person who tested positive was 18 years old.

“There were a number of registered general nurses who were redeployed including a quality lead and the ward teams had to roll out training very quickly to ensure staff had the competencies for treating patients with Covid-19.”

Ms Moore’s gives the example of one patient at the 111-bed inpatient facility who was “struggling with mental health difficulties” and expressed “verbal and some physical aggression”.

“He then, unfortunately, tested positive for Covid-19 but was too unwell to isolate on the ward,” she added, but a ward that had been closed due to staff shortages was repurposed to house him.

“This meant he could stay on the ward with no restrictions, which led to him improving,” Ms Moore writes.

“Other challenges included the presentation of some of the patients who were not able to understand the need for isolation and social distancing.

“The nursing staff adapted to each person on the wards, to support their mental health needs and help them understand the need for isolation.

“The team report that they have been well supported by the organisation. There has never been a shortage of PPE which has meant staff have been able to deliver care effectively.”

Ms Moore says “one of the challenges of using PPE has been the fact that body language and facial expressions have been difficult to convey”, but describes staff reassuring patients by telling them they are “smiling behind the mask”.

She adds: “The real success was that patients who had the virus were extremely well cared for, had good care and good infection control.”

She says every person admitted is now tested, whether or not they are showing symptoms, and there were no cases of COVID-19 for a three-week period.

Titled “In-patient services at The Redwoods Centre and the COVID-19 pandemic”, Ms Moore’s report will be presented by a senior clinician in the board meeting’s regular “staff story” slot.