The healthcare trust 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, new figures show. 

This means Hampshire Hospitals Trust had the highest acquired infection rate across England with board papers showing five of those individuals died after becoming infected in one of its hospitals. 

The Telegraph has analysed data that shows 10,000 patients admitted to hospitals caught the potentially deadly virus after being admitted to hospitals across England.

Out of all the healthcare trusts in England, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which operates Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, recorded the highest number of transmissions. 

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said that 139 out of 357 Covid-19 patients they had treated had caught the virus there – 38.9 per cent.

The revelations come nine months after staff at Basingstoke hospital raised concerns about the Trust's ability to contain the virus.

Basingstoke Gazette: Coronavirus testing outside Basingstoke hospital in March Coronavirus testing outside Basingstoke hospital in March

There were incidents where staff allegedly failed to separate patients experiencing coronavirus symptoms from those admitted to general wards. 

A whistleblower spoke to the Gazette in March, ahead of the first national lockdown and before the PPE shortage became public knowledge.

Speaking at the time, they warned: "The disease is going to spread like wildfire across the hospital. Basingstoke hospital consistnently fails when it comes to containing infections." 

Dr Lara Alloway, chief medical officer at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: “Alongside many other trusts we have had a number of outbreaks during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It is not always possible to determine how these occur, not least due to the varied incubation period the virus has, but each is rigorously investigated.

"Everyone in the NHS has been on a steep learning curve since March and we are now much better prepared.

“At Hampshire Hospitals a range of measures including tighter visiting restrictions, increased testing for patients – for instance we now test on day one, three and five of any non-elective admission, installed advanced air scrubbers for areas with limited ventilation and expanded rest areas mean that we have further improved our infection control processes.

"We also ensure that patients with Covid-19 – or with symptoms – are kept separate from those without to ensure any risk of transmission is kept to an absolute minimum.”

Here are the trusts with the highest rates of infection according to The Telegraph’s figures:

  • Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – 38.9%
  • Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust – 36.6%
  • Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – 34.3%
  • University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust – 31.6%
  • Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – 29.9%
  • Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust – 29.6%
  • United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust – 29.5%
  • Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – 29.5%
  • East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust – 29.5%
  • Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – 27.7%