‘Extreme pressure’ on hospitals
HOSPITALS in Bristol are “under extreme pressure” as more than 200 inpatients battle coronavirus.
Bristol City Council revealed rising cases and hospital admissions in its update on Monday.
The update says: “Cases have increased across the city, in all age groups. This is largely due to Christmas mixing, but also the new variant of Covid-19 which is extremely infectious.
“As of December 31, there are 242 people in our local hospitals who have tested positive for Covid-19.
“Our local hospitals are once again seeing an increase in people requiring treatment for Covid-19 symptoms.
“The system is under extreme pressure as a result of Covid-19 admissions, business as usual and winter pressures.”
There has been a sharp rise in positive tests since the week to December 22, when the city’s infection rate was 190 new cases per 100,000 people. The rate has increased to 305.6, as of yesterday’s Public Health England (PHE) data.
PHE says there were 1,416 new Bristol cases in the week to December 30 – 13 per cent under-20; 26 per cent 20-29; 50 per cent in 30-59; 12 per cent 60 or above.
Meanwhile, non-Covid patients are not being admitted to Weston Hospital – in a bid to reduce the transmission of the virus.
Bosses at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust say the move is a temporary measure and one which will allow the hospital to operate safely.
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust – which runs the Bristol Royal Infirmary and Weston General Hospitals – currently have 169 Covid-19 patients with eight on ventilation.
That means coronavirus patients are taking up almost a fifth of their beds.
Health chiefs say Weston Hospital, which was at the centre of a coronavirus outbreak during the first lockdown in May, is currently under significant pressure.
But they have denied reports that it is a ‘Covid only hospital’ and say the site remains open as normal.
Dr William Oldfield, medical director at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, said that those with planned appointments at the hospital should attend as planned.