HUNDREDS of people have left hospital after being successfully treated for coronavirus since the pandemic began, it has been revealed.

The chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has called it a “huge morale boost” for staff that more than 400 coronavirus patients have recovered and been well enough to return home after hospital treatment.

The trust, that runs Worcestershire Royal Hospital as well as the Alexander Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital, posted an update on social media saying: “440 Coronavirus patients are now back home after treatment with us. #GettingYouHome.”

The post was shared by the trust’s account with the message “Something to celebrate” and some celebratory emojis.

Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Our staff across all our hospitals and health and care services in Worcestershire are doing a magnificent job in working to put patients first through one of the most challenging periods in the history of the NHS.

“This includes frontline staff working under tremendous pressure looking after coronavirus patients and also those working tirelessly behind the scenes to support them.

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“We are delighted that these patients could be safely discharged home.

"This is a huge morale boost for our staff who are working day in day out to provide the best possible care for our patients.”

“It is important that local people do everything they can to reduce the pressure on our hospitals by following the latest social distancing guidance and maintaining scrupulous hand hygiene.”

It is the first indication of how many people have been treated in Worcestershire's hospitals and how many have successfully fought off the virus - although it still only reflects the numbers of those who were most severely affected and needed hospital treatment.

The number of recorded hospital deaths of coronavirus, according to the NHS, at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s hospitals stands at 242.

And yesterday we revealed that according to the Office for National Statistics 405 Worcestershire people, classed as having Covid-19, had died in all settings including hospitals and care homes up to May 8.