Concerns over rise in Covid patients
283 PEOPLE BEING TREATED FOR VIRUS IN CITY HOSPITALS
IT is understood that nearly 300 people are being treated for Covid19 across Nottingham’s hospitals as the county is set to fall into Tier 3 lockdown.
Council leaders are concerned about the delay in putting the area into Tier 3 restrictions as hospitals become “overwhelmed” by the amount of Covid-19 admissions.
Information provided to the Post shows there are 283 people being treated for Covid-19 in the Queen’s Medical Centre and the City Hospital.
It is also understood there are 21 people in “critical care” at the moment.
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust said they could not give “exact figures” until they are verified by NHS England.
Days of talks finally resulted in the whole of Nottinghamshire being put into Tier 3 for 28 days from midnight tonight. A review will then be undertaken on whether to lift the restrictions or place the areas under another 28-day curfew.
Council leaders believe these measures need to be taken to bring down the infection rate and stop Nottingham’s hospitals becoming overwhelmed with patients. Councillor Milan Radulovic, leader of Broxtowe Borough Council, called the government’s indecision “a scandal and a disgrace”.
He told the Post: “We need to be in Tier 3 now, every day we delay this more people’s lives are being put at risk.
“The number of people with Covid-19 at NUH is 283 and it is getting higher every day. I just feel letdown.
“We should have done this two weeks ago.
“The hospitals will be overwhelmed - routine operations (and some cancer operations) are being cancelled.
“They are being let down by people who will not make the right decisions. If we don’t act now the numbers will continue to rise and people will get sick and die.”
Councillor John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, said: “I asked for the whole county to be in Tier 3 about 10 days ago.
“The longer we drag it out the more businesses will go to the wall, the more people will go to hospital and unfortunately more people will die.
“It made no sense for the whole county not to be included. I have never known so much indecision.
“It is like Silence of the Lambs - the Government need to wake up, shake up, and get on with it.”
NUH said it has tested more than 11,000 frontline staff over the last two weeks to pick up those who may be asymptomatic. The trust has tested elective patients ahead of admission as well as inpatients regularly, with 6,000 tests carried out so far
Keith Girling, medical director at NUH, said: “In this phase of Covid we have seen an increase in the number of staff and patients who are positive for coronavirus and not displaying symptoms, but who are able pass it on to others who may then become seriously ill. We’re doing all we can to stop the spread in our hospitals, including testing all of our frontline staff, planned patients and everyone admitted as an emergency. We need our community to work with us by adhering to guidance; wearing a face mask over your nose and mouth, washing your hands regularly and keeping a distance of two metres from others.”