EFFORTS to obtain information on the plans and procedures being put in place by hospitals in relation to the coronavirus have proved fruitless thus far.

The Daily Echo contacted both the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital asking what preparations had been made as more potential exposures and self-isolations are reported by the day.

However, officials from both hospitals said national guidelines instructed them to refer all enquiries to the Department of Health and Social Care.

After contacting the government department requesting what was being done at the Dorset hospitals, the Echo was provided with a bullet point list of guidance about what overall broad support had been given to the NHS.

As a local newspaper, the Echo is trying to provide the latest fact-based information on what preparations are being made.

In the public interest we will continue with efforts to source this information.

At present, the hospitals are understood to have carried out tests for coronavirus but there have been no confirmed cases.