Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NEW JAB ON A DARK DAY
» Third vaccine gets UK approval » But Covid peak is on way for NI
A THIRD Covid vaccine has been approved in the UK – as Robin Swann warned of another Covid peak.
Th e Mo d erna jab is expected to be here by the spring. But th e Health Minister said NI hospitals faced “unprecedented pressures’ as figures showed 200 people died over Christmas.
THE peak of the third Covid-19 surge is expected in the third week of January the Health Minister warned yesterday.
As Northern Ireland entered a new range of restrictions at midnight yesterday, the Department of Health reported 20 deaths.
Friday’s dashboard update also reported a further 1,500 positive cases of the virus in the past 24 hour period, bringing the total number of cases to 86,146 since the pandemic began here.
In a statement to the Assembly Robin Swann said that “it’s essential the current lockdown successfully and significantly reduces R number”.
He estimated that in some parts of Northern Ireland, where transmission is particularly high, as many as one in 40 people currently have Covid-19 and for Northern Ireland as a whole, the estimated figure is in the region of one in 60.
He added: “This week, a number of our Health and Social Care Trusts have confirmed a downturn of elective surgery.
“This reflects the unprecedented pressures the Covid-19 pandemic is creating in our hospitals.
“I am assured that every attempt will continue to be made to protect the most urgent surgery where this is achievable, and that postponed operations will be rescheduled as quickly as possible.
“I deeply regret any patient experiencing postponements of this nature. The unfortunate reality is that a health service that struggles to cope in normal times is not built to withstand a pandemic of this scale.
“As a result of the prevailing Covid situation, an even greater number of staff will have to be redeployed in the days and weeks ahead to meet the urgent and immediate needs of extremely ill patients. That applies equally for both Covid and nonCovid patients needing critical care
“I can inform members that I have approved the establishment of a new regional approach to ensure that any available theatre capacity across Northern Ireland is allocated for those patients most in need of surgery both during surge and as we come out of this surge.
“This will include seeking to fully maximise all available in-house HSC and independent sector capacity.
“Whilst this may mean that patients will need to travel further for their surgery I would rather see the highest priority treatments delivered elsewhere in Northern Ireland than not at all.
“As this new mechanism settles in it is also my firm expectation that inter-trust transfers for the highest clinical priority case s wi l l b e facilitated.”
Mr Swann assured the public that “hospitals are doing their absolute best to care for patients, and that includes treating the sickest quickest”.
He squashed claims that it is the case of prioritising one medical condition over another saying these reports are “incredibly offensive for anyone to accuse frontline staff of doing that”.
He added: “I hope no member will resort to making such claims.
“It is long past time that this falsehood was nailed once and for all.
“Indeed, anyone making such an allegation is insulting health staff who are battling the most appalling pressures and facing decisions no one should have to grapple with.
“Well before this pandemic, we were already short of the staff we needed to meet growing demand for
health care in society. Important initiatives are in place to rectify that situation but it is a long-term challenge. It takes years to train up specialist nurses and doctors. There are no quick fixes here.
“It remains the case that the best way to protect non-covid health services is to push down Covid infection rates as aggressively as possible.
“I believe the majority of people are doing the right thing in terms of complying with the lockdown, adhering to Covid-19 regulations, and following the public health advice.
“Let me again pay tribute to that collective spirit – and urge everyone to stay the course in this crucial and extremely difficult period.
“That includes sticking rigidly to the requirements on self-isolation for 10 days in relation to symptoms, confirmed or suspected cases, and travel.
“I would remind members that anyone arriving into Northern Ireland from within the Common
Travel Area who plans to re ma i n here for at l east 24 hours, must self-isolate upon arrival for 10 days in the same way as international arrivals.
“People who routinely cross the border ( from either Great Britain or the Republic) for essential purposes are not subject to these requirements.”
Minister Swann warned that this is a time for “maximum vigilance”. He also said that “official figures for confirmed cases will always underestimate the actual total” as many people with Covid-19 do not display symptoms or are aware of the infection.
Mr Swann said: “The scale of the threat posed to our citizens at this time from Covid-19 must not be underestimated.
“We have seen over recent times the largest daily figures for c onf irmed Cov i d-19 cases i n Northern Ireland since the beginning of the pandemic.
“This level of new cases will inevitably lead to mounting and unparalleled pressures for our hospitals in the coming weeks.
“In particular, the increase in cases among the over 60 age bracket will drive escalating pressures on our health system.
“Colleagues across health and social care are extremely concerned about what is coming our way in the early part of this year.”