Pregnant woman 'stressed' after being placed on Calderdale Royal ward with positive Covid-19 patient

Anna Lajca, 37, from Pellon, said she was struggling to breathe last week and was taken to Calderdale Royal Hospital on November 26, before being discharged the following day.

However, Ms Lajca, who is 14 weeks pregnant and works at a pharmacy in Northowram, said she was kept on a ward with a 90-year-old, and a second woman - the latter of which would later that day test positive for coronavirus.

Ms Lajca said she suffers with anaemia and migraines, which 'could have' been the cause in her shortness of breath.

"My oxygen levels dropped and with being pregnant, I started to panic," she said.

"When I arrived at the hospital I was given a coronavirus test and placed on a ward, where my results came back negative.

"There was also a 90-year-old woman on the ward with me, who had also tested negative."

Ms Lajca was taken to Calderdale Royal's Medical Assessment Unit 2B ward.

Hospital staff said upon arrival, all patients admitted to hospital are given a Covid-19 test whether they have symptoms or not.

If they show symptoms, they are taken to what is called a 'side room', while if they show no symptoms they are taken to a 'bay'.

Ms Lajca did not show any symptoms resulting in her being taken to a bay.

Ms Lajca said: "The same day of my arrival, a third woman came in who was also tested.

"But her results hadn't come back yet, and she was discharged before she found out whether she was negative or positive.

"I found out from a member of staff she tested positive for the virus.

"This woman who had tested positive was on the ward with a pregnant woman and a 90-year-old - who are both in the highly vulnerable category.

"Because I was around someone who tested positive, I now have to self-isolate for two weeks; stopping me from returning to work. i'll lose two weeks pay.

"I've sent a formal complaint to the Trust in Huddersfield, but the damage has already been done," she said.

"It's out of order and it's put me under so much stress."

The Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) said it can only follow strict Government guidelines of taking admitted patients to bays if they do not show any coronavirus symptoms.

Symptoms include high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss, or change to sense of smell or taste.

Director of Nursing at the Trust, Ellen Armistead said: "At CHFT we follow government guidelines and policy.

"All patients admitted into hospital are tested for Covid and if they have symptoms on admission they are placed into a side room.

"Those patients that are not displaying symptoms are cared for in a bay until the results are available.

"Patients are informed of the results and advice is given accordingly."

The Trust said the woman who had tested positive for the virus was immediately contacted and told to self-isolated for two weeks.

Ms Lajca said she has yet to receive a response from the Trust regarding her complaint.