Covid ICU patients sent to Bristol by helicopter as bed crisis looms
COVID patients are being ‘evacuated’ from the South East to hospitals in Bristol following data released by the NHS which reveals London is set to run out of critical care beds within a week.
The news comes as Bristol’s coronavirus cases soared by 86 per cent in one day, according to the Government’s latest breakdown of data.
A further 327 people were diagnosed with the deadly virus in our city yesterday. This compares to 176 on Wednesday and 253 on Tuesday.
Figures also show seven further people died in North Somerset after testing positive for Covid.
Two deaths were confirmed in Bristol, while Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire each recorded a further death.
The Post understands some patients in areas such as London and Kent are being transported by helicopter to hospital in Bristol as part of the NHS plan to “work together” as Covid admissions rise.
Bristol Nightingale Hospital, which is currently being used for non-Covid patients, is “on standby” and could be reactivated with some Nightingale hospitals across the country being “readied” for use as case numbers rise.
A spokesperson from the NHS said “Covid inpatient numbers are rising sharply so the remaining Nightingales are being readied to admit patients once again should they be needed, in line with best clinical practice developed over the first and second waves of coronavirus.”
A report by the Independent states that several patients from across Kent have been taken to Bristol in recent days following the rise of Covid cases in the South East.
The nearest available ICU beds to Kent are in Bristol and the Midlands.
A critical care consultant told the publication: “We have no choice but to evacuate the patients to other parts of the country. This is about as serious as it gets. You don’t transfer a critically ill patient unless you really have to.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from NHS South West told the Post both high Covid infection rates and winter demands mean hospitals are working together to manage admissions.
A spokesperson said: “The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to manage significant pressure either from high Covid-19 infection rates or non-Covid winter demands and this has always included mutual aid practices whereby hospitals work together to manage admissions.
“While the NHS is opening more beds in places like London to care for the most unwell patients, it is vital that people continue to follow government guidance and do everything possible to reduce transmission of the virus.”
Recent coronavirus figures show that in the South East region there are currently 3,796 patients in hospital with Covid, 5,371 in London and 1,124 in the South West. In London the city is at 116 per cent for critical care beds.
More information on Covid figures can be found on the Government website.
This is about as serious as it gets. You don’t transfer a critically ill patient unless you really have to
Critical care consultant