Private hospitals help as NHS nears capacity
NHS Scotland has filled more than 80 per cent of its Covid-19 hospital capacity, according to official figures.
Atotalof1,959patientswere in care with coronavirus yesterday while the number of beds available on a national basis is 2,400 - meaning 82 percentofcapacitywasfilled.
Government figures also show three health boards are operating above capacity Nhslanarkshire,nhsdumfries and Galloway as well as NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
Holyrood has drafted in five private hospitals to perform urgentoperationsandcancer treatmentsduringthecoronavirus crisis.
Urgent care and cancer treatment, including breast surgery, will now be carried out at the Albyn Hospital in Aberdeen, the Kings Park Hospital in Stirling, the Nuffield and Ross Hall hospitals inglasgowandthespirehospital in Edinburgh.
NHS Scotland chief operating officer John Connaghan said: "Overall, the NHS is exceptionally busy. I cannot
remember in a 30-plus-year careeranythinglikethispressure on the NHS.
"However,thenhsiscoping and is able to provide services across Scotland on a daily basis. We maintain the ability to provide emergency and cancer services.
"1,959 - that's the number of hospital patients with Covid-19 on January 18 on a national basis - that's roughly about an 80 per cent fill rate againstouravailablecovid-19 capacity on a national basis." The NHS has funding worth up to £15 million to use up to 75 per cent of private hospital space until the end of March if needed.