A WOMAN has been accused of putting lives at risk by falsely claiming that Hampshire hospitals are largely free of Covid-19 patients.

Police are investigating complaints about a Facebook user posting pictures of empty corridors and citing what she describes as “fictional” accounts of the massive workload faced by staff.

University Hospital Southampton is one of the sites mentioned in the posts.

The posts have sparked fears that people could be lulled into a false sense of security, raising their risk of contracting the deadly virus.

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he woman has also come under fire from the hospital itself.

A spokesperson said: “University Hospital Southampton has been made aware of a post circulating on social media claiming to show the hospital is not under pressure.

“This could not be further from the truth.

“Sharing this sort of misinformation causes an incredible amount of upset and distress to our staff who are working tirelessly to care for those who are being admitted in significant numbers each day.”

The woman has also visited the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, where more than 420 people have died of Covid-19.

Mark Cubbon, chief executive of Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, took to Twitter after Facebook posts showed photographs taken inside the hospital. The images were accompanied by a caption describing the building as “the quietest I have ever seen it”.

Mr Cubbon said: “Saddened to see messages on social media suggesting our wards are empty and the pressures we’re facing are fictional.”

A police spokesperson said enquiries were ongoing.