Covid on the rise again and NHS under pressure
CORONAVIRUS cases appear to be on the rise in the Ashbourne area again.
In the Ashbourne South Ward, which had seen the number of cases dip by 15 last week, there have been 13 new ones recorded up to Monday afternoon. This puts the ward’s rolling rate measured per 100,000 population on 389.6, up from 161.2 last week.
A rise has also been seen in the Ashbourne North, with five cases detected. This ward had been seeing a sustained fall in cases.
Ipstones, Warslow & Hamps Valley, Mayfield, Rocester & Bramshall, Cheadle North, Alton & Kingsley, Duffield, Quarndon & Kirk Langley, Ambergate, Heage & Idridgehay and Bakewell South, Youlgreave and Taddington have also seen small increases over the seven-day period.
However, three other neighbouring wards - Doveridge,
Brailsford & Bradley, Matlock South, Cromford & Winster and the Wirksworth ward have seen small decreases.
The Derbyshire Dales has seen an increase in cases in the last seven days, but only by two.
Derbyshire’s cases have been increasing steadily, but not at quite the same pace as those in neighbouring counties. Derbyshire’s rolling rate is 318.9, up from 300.9.
There is pressure on NHS services and bosses say the risks posed by the virus remain high. There are 57 Covid patients in our hospitals, while a couple of months ago this had been zero.
Vaccination, researched treatment options and a greater understanding of infection control and of the virus means the number of patients is far lower than the January peak of more than 700.
NHS staff are caring for the patients alongside a mountain of other duties which have gathered during the pandemic. The vaccination programme is about to enter what has been dubbed Phase Three, with patients aged over 50 and those most at risk set to receive a third “booster” jab.
Smaller sites with large host venues will be back in use (including Derby Arena), while other jab sites are closing.
As of August 15, 90.31 per cent of all Derbyshire adults have had a jab and 81.79 per cent have had both doses.
Health leaders continue to stress the importance of getting two doses of vaccine.
Royal Derby Hospital staff are caring for 34 Covid patients, six of which are in its intensive care unit.
Queen’s Hospital in Burton has six Covid-19 patients, with one is in intensive care.
This is far lower than its peak of nearly 200 Covid inpatients in late January.
NHS leaders across the region have previously spoken of the burden on hospital services presented by unvaccinated patients who have contracted Covid and fallen seriously ill, leading to extensive stays in intensive care.
Covid patients had been trending much younger, on average, than in previous waves. All this comes while staff simultaneously aim to wade through the backlog in patient waiting lists and also gain some respite after a nightmarish 18 months under pandemic pressures.
The waiting lists are to take several years to reduce back to normal levels pre-covid.
Those waiting for treatment, thousands of which have been waiting in excess of a year in our county alone, are suffering with ailments for far longer.
“To help limit the spread please make sure that you sanitise your hands regularly, wear a mask and socially distance where possible, particularly in enclosed, indoor spaces and at all times when you visit this hospital.
Gavin Boyle, chief executive of the Derby and Burton trust, said: “In recent weeks, we have seen an increase in the number of patients receiving care for Covid and we are caring for 40 patients across our hospitals.
“Cases in the community are rising and this is the first time in months that we have been caring for so many patients.
“While I understand that the easing of distancing restrictions will be welcomed by many I would still urge people to be vigilant.
“Covid is still spreading in our communities and that’s why we and large parts of the NHS will be retaining all the current restrictions that we’ve had since the pandemic started.”