NHS absence due to Omicron rockets at region’s hospitals
ARMY READY TO HELP IF AUTHORITIES DEEM IT NECESSARY
NEW NHS data shows Covid-related absences at North East hospitals tripled during December
n New Year’s Eve, 1,801 NHS staff were off either with Covid or because they were selfisolating across five North East hospital trusts – around 3.5% of staff.
At this stage, it is understood from the Ministry of Defence that there are “no imminent plans” for troops to be sent to our region. They have already been deployed in London, where Omicron cases first started to climb steeply.
For troops to be deployed, the NHS or local authorities have to make an official request for military support here.
Across the North East and Yorkshire, NHS data published yesterday shows hospital staff absences due to Covid more than doubled in a week across the North East and Yorkshire.
A total of 8,788 NHS staff at hospital trusts in the wider region were ill with coronavirus or having to self-isolate on January 2, up 110% on the 4,179 reported on Boxing Day.
Overall there were 39,142 NHS staff at acute hospital trusts in England who were absent for Covid-related reasons on January 2, up 59% from 24,632 the previous week and more than three times the 12,508 at the start of December.
The figures suggest that, across the country, 4% of NHS staff working in acute hospital trusts are off sick or self-isolating due to Covid, based on NHS Digital monthly workforce data for September for acute trusts – the most recent available.
Each of the five North East hospital trusts has seen a marked increase in absence due to Covid-19. On January 2, the data shows Newcastle Hospitals had 602 staff off, with South Tyneside and Sunderland (345), Gateshead Health (189), Northumbria Healthcare (307) and County Durham and Dar- lington (205) all experiencing similar pressures.
The situation has worsened this week. On Thursday bosses at
South Tyneside and Sunderland
NHS Trust said more than 10% of staff were out of action due to Covid
19.
On December 1, the five trusts were missing 606 staff because of
Covid. By
New
Year’s Eve this figure was 1,801.
The military said it could offer assistance to more hospitals around the UK if needed after about 200 personnel were drafted in to help in London.
NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said rising Covid-19 cases are “piling even more pressure” on hospital trust workers. He said: “Omicron means more patients to treat and fewer staff to treat them. In fact, around 10,000 more colleagues across the NHS were absent each day last week compared with the previous seven days and almost half of all absences are now down to Covid.
“While we don’t know the full scale of the potential impact this new strain will have, it’s clear it spreads more easily and, as a result, Covid cases in hospitals are the highest they’ve been since February last year – piling even more pressure on hard-working staff. “Those staff are stepping up as they always do; answering a quarter more 111 calls last week than the week before, dealing with an increasing number of ambulance call-outs, and working closely with colleagues in social care to get people out of hospital safely.” NHS executives at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead revealed “significant pressures” on staffing due to Omicron were leading to “ongoing challenges in discharging patients”.
There are currently more than 120 Covid positive patients at South Tyneside and Sunderland Royal hospitals.
In a blog yesterday, Dame Jackie Daniel, chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, paid tribute to how her staff had responded to the pressures they were under, adding: “The fact that we are able to respond so well, even in the hardest of times, is because everyone is part of the team and brings their best efforts.
“It’s also good to see so many messages of support to different teams and
Prof Stephen Powis individuals – the enduring spirit of camaraderie and teamwork shines really brightly from each part of our organisation.
“I’m conscious that this hard work comes at a cost. I know that people are working hours and shifts that are not sustainable, and the exhaustion that everyone feels has not gone away.”
Around 10,000 more colleagues across the NHS were absent compared with the previous seven days