Sheffield Children's Hospital reveals how many patients with coronavirus it has seen

In an open letter to staff, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust Board said only three patients to date had tested positive for COVID-19, all of whom were being treated for a different reason and were able to go home.

The trust said only 1.6 per cent of its workforce had tested positive for the disease but it recognised the impact ‘goes far beyond that’ as staff face up to the physical and emotional challenges posed by the crisis, including the loss of many NHS colleagues across the country.

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“We held our trust board meeting this Tuesday and were amazed, touched and humbled by your work,” wrote the board of directors.

“The way everyone within the trust has responded and adapted to the challenges we have faced has been so impressive.

“It was both assuring and moving to hear reports from the executive team about how much has been achieved in such a short space of time. We have never been prouder of every single one of you.”

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The board recognised that ‘almost every aspect’ of employees’ working lives had changed, while they also had to deal with ‘huge changes’ in their personal lives.

“You’ve all risen to the challenge with compassion for your patients and colleagues, with teamwork, and in a way that allowed you to continue to provide excellent services for patients and to support the wider trust,” it said.

The letter also revealed how the trust is ‘making plans’ for what happens in the next phase.

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“We want to make sure we are planning for the next weeks and months, but also for what recovery looks like longer term,” wrote directors.

The trust has told people not to attend any of its sites if they feel unwell or have flu-like symptoms.

But it says if your child has a medical condition or injury they should continue to access treatment and attend medical appointments as recommended by their hospital, GP or other healthcare professionals.