Covid patient stats stable despite fears over Omicron

THE number of Covid patients in the two main hospitals treating Burton patients remains stable – despite a rising number of infections in and around the town.

There are fears rising infection rates and the new Omicron variant – thought to be more transmissible than other strains – could overwhelm the NHS this winter.

The Government has not ruled out harsher restrictions if hospitals come under too much pressure.

However, NHS bosses say the number of Covid patients in Royal Derby and Burton’s Queen’s Hospitals is almost identical to three months ago, with 50 at Royal Derby and 23 at Queen’s – just three more than the number in September.

Six of the Derby patients are being treated in its Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with just one Burton patient in intensive care.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Gavin Boyle said: “There are currently high rates of infection in our local communities but despite this, there are still relatively few patients in our hospitals.

“The number has gone up over the last week or so to around 70 but this is a fraction compared to earlier in the year when we had similar levels of infection.

“Also, encouragingly, the proportion of Covid-19 patients needing to be admitted to our Intensive Care Units at Queen’s Hospital and Royal Derby has remained low.

“The vaccine is not a guarantee that you won’t contract Covid-19, but the overwhelming evidence is that if you’ve had it you’re far less likely to become seriously ill and need our care.

“That said, keep your guard up and your mask on.

“It’s been no secret that in this second half of 2021 the demand for NHS services has skyrocketed, be that for urgent and emergency care of for planned care.

“Our Emergency Department teams, admissions unit and those that support them directly and indirectly have been stretched by the number of patients coming to us for urgent and emergency treatment.

“Our Paediatric Emergency Department team are treating nearly a third more patients than pre-pandemic levels.”

At the time of writing, the seven-day infection rate in East Staffordshire was 503.6 per 100,000 people, with 609 infections in total. That is up 14.9 per cent compared to the previous week.