Hospitals were almost free of Covid patients before the latest spike
AHEAD, WARNS HEALTH CHIEF
MEDICS at Leicester’s hospitals were close to discharging the “last couple” of coronavirus patients before cases started to rise again.
The trust which runs Leicester Royal Infirmary and the Glenfield and General hospitals, has treated thousands of people with the virus since the pandemic started.
Numbers were slowly falling and in August, there were 18 patients who had tested positive in city hospital beds.
The Mercury understands that more than 40 patients are currently being treated across the three sites, with som requiring intensive care.
This means the number of inpatients is on the up, as the latest figures available – for the week before October 1 – show 30 virus patients being looked after by the trust.
Rebecca Brown, acting chief executive at Leicester’s hospitals said: “A few weeks ago we were hoping to have discharged the last couple of patients we’d been treating for Covid-19, but since then we’ve seen a steady increase in the number of cases in our hospitals.”
Warning of a “tough winter” ahead, Ms Brown said: “We’re in the foothills of a second wave now.
“We continue to prioritise treatment for people with cancer and urgent and emergency care and to carry out planned operations wherever it is possible to do so.
“We are here for those who need us for their care, so people shouldn’t delay their treatment.
“Our emergency departments are busy, though, so as always, we ask that people use NHS services wisely.
“We know how challenging the local lockdown continues to be, but everyone needs to continue to play their part in preventing the spread of the virus.
“So please, follow the guidance and wear masks, wash hands and keep distance from others. This is the only way we can protect ourselves, our loved ones and vital public services including those at our hospitals.”
The local situation appears to be mirroring what is unfolding nationally.
President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Dr Katherine Henderson, has warned of a rise in coronavirus patients and the impact this will have on the NHS.
She said: “We need to be clear about the scale of what we face as we go into winter. If we do not come together and take effective precautions, Covid will continue its explosion across the country, a devastating consequence of which could be the implosion of our NHS this winter.
“While performance is not near its worst, we are seeing extremely worrying signs as we head into winter. Our emergency departments must be safe places for our most vulnerable patients, and we cannot go back to the status quo of crowded departments and long waits.
“However, the data shows that we are gradually returning to this, which will put lives at risk.”