STAFF at St Ann’s Hospital in Poole have been forced to self-isolate after an employee has tested positive for Covis-19.

The employee received a notification about her test result eight days after taking a test, and an independent review is to be carried out following this incident.

Dorset HealthCare has said that “a number” of staff members are quarantining but have assured residents that the new Covid-19 case “will not interfere with patient care people”.

Deputy Director of Nursing, Therapies & Quality at Dorset HealthCare, Cara Southgate said: “A member of our staff at St Ann’s Hospital in Poole has tested positive for Covid-19.

“As the transmission of the virus has increased within the local area, this has the potential to impact the NHS workforce.

“We have a process in place for when we are made aware of any colleagues identified as having the virus, and a number of our staff are self-isolating as a precaution.

“This will not interfere with patient care at the hospital.”