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."
Read more: World Health Organisation says Monkeypox presents 'moderate risk to public health'
With Covid-19 cases dropping rapidly - Mr Welch said there were now only around 30 patients with the virus in hospital and only around a third of those had been admitted because of Covid. He said most had been admitted with other medical issues and their Covid-19 diagnosis was "incidental".
Also at the meeting, the trust's director of infection prevention and control highlighted that well-practiced safeguards were in place to both look after patients who may have monkeypox and to ensure it does not spread within the community. Dr Lucia Pareja-Cebrian said: "We have very robust pathways and processes for managing any patient who might come in with suspected monkeypox."
The first monkeypox patient was sent to Newcastle in mid-May. At that stage there were just seven confirmed cases of the virus. Now, according to the UK Health Security Agency on Tuesday, there have been 183 confirmed.
The UKHSA has emphasised that the risk to the UK population "remains low", but is asking people to be alert to any new rashes or lesions, which would appear like spots, ulcers or blisters, on any part of their body.
Dr Ruth Milton, a Senior Medical Advisor at UKHSA, said: "The risk to the general public from monkeypox is still low, but it’s important that we work to limit the virus being passed on. We remind people that they should be alert to new spots, ulcers or blisters on any part of their body.
"If anyone suspects they might have these, particularly if they have recently had a new sexual partner, they should limit their contact with others and contact NHS 111 or their local sexual health service as soon as possible, though please phone ahead before attending in person."
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