BASINGSTOKE hospital is backing a ‘Covid Zero’ campaign, calling on staff and the community to do everything they can to reduce the transmission of the virus.

Covid Zero is the ambition to have zero transmission of the virus in hospitals and the community, to enable the hospital to “run as many services as possible and provide the best care to patients”.

In December, it was reported that Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), which runs Basingstoke hospital, had the highest acquired infection rate of coronavirus across England.

Nearly 40 per cent of its Covid-19 patients caught the potentially deadly disease while being treated for other illnesses.

The trust is now urging its staff and the community to follow national guidelines to “keep prevalence low”, adding: “It is really important we continue to behave in this way for our own safety, as well as protecting our friends, family and patients.

“In our hospitals, this means focusing on infection prevention practices in our hospitals and making sure we are following these rigorously.

“Outside of our hospitals, we are asking members of the public to adhere to government guidance and keep the transmission low, so that there is less Covid in our community.”

Members of the public can show their support by downloading and displaying a Covid Zero poster, from the trust’s website.

The trust said: “You will see reminders of the Covid Zero campaign across our hospitals, please do all that you can to support this and keep yourself and those around you safe and encourage others to do the same.

“Over the next few weeks, we will also be introducing Covid Zero ambassadors, who will be sharing tips on best practice on how to reduce the transmission of Coronavirus and having conversations with staff and members of the public across our hospitals.”