HOSPITALS: WE’RE IN DISASTER MODE
One says it may have to treat virus patients only – another has just one nurse for every 3 Covid cases
TWO of Britain’s busiest hospitals were in crisis last night – with one warning it is on the brink of being able to treat Covid patients only.
Rocketing infection rates have left hospitals struggling to cope as medical staff scramble to convert non- critical wards into intensive care areas.
As health officials warned admission rates are set to rise even further in the coming days, the Royal London Hospital declared it is in ‘disaster mode’.
In an email to staff, bosses at the hospital in Whitechapel, east London – Britain’s busiest – warned there is only one nurse for every three Covid patients.
‘We are now in disaster medicine mode,’ the message said. ‘We are no longer providing high standard critical care, because we cannot … Things are going to get harder before they get better.’
Meanwhile, the head of University College London Hospitals Trust warned they may only be able to admit patients with coronavirus. The trust’s chief executive, Whipps Cross in Walthamstow – Professor Marcel Levi, told The had Covid, including 146 in intensive Guardian: ‘ The 500-bed hospital care, the London Evening has 220 Covid patients, with the Standard reported. numbers increasing by 5 per cent a In response to the leaked email, day, but the real pressure is on Professor Alistair Chesser, group intensive care where there are now chief medical officer, told the paper: 70 very sick patients, as there were ‘The rapid expansion of intensive in the spring, and rising fast. care beds in our hospitals has led
‘Usually in our ITU we have about to necessary changes in the clinical 35 patients so we are already doubled staffing model, in line with national in size at UCLH. We are further guidance. Despite this, our dedicated surging upon the request of staff are providing high-quality London to 92 patients in the next care for all who need it thanks week, and thereafter probably we to their dedication and skill.’ will have to grow even further.’ Prof Chesser told staff on Thursday
As of 8am yesterday morning, 701 the situation at the hospital patients at Barts hospitals – which was ‘ rapidly escalating’, adding: includes the Royal London and ‘Unfortunately we now find ourselves really short of nursing support all weekend starting from tonight. We really need anyone who can do health care support duties to come forward please.’
Earlier this week, ambulances were seen queueing outside hospion tals including the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel and Queen’s Hospital in Romford.
The grim warnings came as a record 55,892 Covid cases and 964 deaths were recorded, only 24 hours after 981 deaths were logged the deadliest day since April.
It brings the UK total to 73,512 deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19. The average case rate now stands at 377 posi tive tests per 100,000 people.Yesterday’s alarming figures signal a marked increase from numbers released a week ago.
Some 39,877 new cases and 585 deaths were announced on Christmas Eve, meaning cases have risen 40 per cent and deaths by 65 per cent in a week.
Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England said: ‘We know the overwhelming majority of deaths reported today are people who sadly passed away in just the last few days. Every life lost to this disease is a sadness.
‘ It is imperative we all take action now to protect our family and friends.
‘We have all had to make huge sacrifices this year, but please ensure that you keep your distance from others, wash your hands, and wear a mask.’ Dr Doyle added that people staying in to ring in the New Year would help stop the spread of the virus. The latest data on the number of coronavirus tests carried out reveals around 420,000 are being carried out per day – still far off the Government’s Operation Moonshot target of 10million tests a day. Yesterday’s figure was the
‘Every life lost is a sadness’
highest death toll since April 24, when 1,010 deaths were reported.
The UK’s worst day for Covid deaths was April 21, when 1,224 deaths were recorded. Recent figures may appear high due to a lag in reporting fatalities over Christmas.
The latest Covid-19 case rates for every local authority area in England reveal of the 315 areas in England, 80 per cent have seen a rise in cases.
Epping Forest in Essex continues to have the highest rate in England, with the equivalent of 1,328.9 cases per 100,000 people. Thurrock, also in Essex, has the second highest rate at 1,268 per 100,000 people. Torbay in Devon has the lowest case rate with 74.1 cases per 100,000.