AROUND a quarter of patients, including some with cancer, are not going to the Royal Bolton Hospital because they are too scared of catching Covid-19.

Nurses are having to call patients to encourage them to attend when necessary as efforts are being made to increase public confidence.

Fewer outpatient appointments are taking place in person as Bolton’s NHS bosses plan for 60 per cent to be held remotely, over the phone or online, in a bid to minimise unnecessary trips to the hospital and physical contact on site.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has put measures in place to protect the public during the pandemic by making sure suspected Covid patients do not mix with others who must visit the hospital for treatment – but many are still “fearful”.

Chief operating officer Andy Ennis said the trust now faces a “real dilemma” with its messaging which he feels is currently saying, “come in, don’t come in”.

He said: “About 25 of our patients are choosing not to come in, even on a cancer pathway, even though we say we’re protecting that pathway, they’re still fearful.

“So we’ve got a lot of work to do because at the same time, I’m really conscious we’re saying, ‘you need to be careful about coming into hospitals because of the risk of COVID’.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do to get a very simple message across.”

Mr Ennis told the board of directors on Thursday that there is a “Covid” and “Covid Light” pathway – but he said a “no Covid” pathway is not possible.

Patients on a “Covid Light” pathway include those who have been shielded for two weeks and have been tested before they have come in, for example.

However, Mr Ennis said the hospital can “never give a guantee” that patients on the “Covid Light” pathway have not contracted coronavirus.

His comments came before last week’s announcement of new restrictions across Greater Manchester, parts of East Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

The new restrictions announced by the health secretary on Thursday night prohibit people from different households from meeting each other indoors.

Speaking before the announcement, Mr Ennis said that Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is preparing for a second outbreak in the borough.

He said: “There is no reason Bolton would be immune to a surge. We need to be ready.”