Tripling of critical care beds
£350m has been wiped from the balance sheet of hospitals
THE number of critical care beds in Leicester has been trebled ahead of an expected peak in coronavirus cases in the next couple of weeks.
Health service managers have penned a joint appeal in which they warned we are about to “enter an important phase in the battle against this disease”.
The plea was issued by Andy Williams, chief executive of the city, county and Rutland’s clinical commissioning groups, Rebecca Brown, acting chief executive of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, and Angela Hillery, chief executive of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, which runs mental health and many community services.
They said: “Locally, we expect cases to continue going up over the course of the next week or two as we approach anticipated peak demand on our critical care facilities.
“Continue to support us by staying home, protecting the NHS and saving lives.
“We would like to say a massive thank you to each and every one of you, who, in the past few weeks, has united in the global fight against coronavirus by staying at home.
“We salute our NHS staff and partners for doing an incredible job in responding to this national emergency.
“We are determined to beat the threat of coronavirus and we have been working tirelessly to put in place the plans to deliver the care and support needed by patients.
“For example, tremendous work between the local NHS and its partners has helped transfer patients that are medically fit for discharge out of hospital and significantly increase the bed capacity available to us.
“We have also increased the number of critical care beds, used to care for the most seriously unwell patients, from a norm of about 50 to more than 150 – with the potential to increase that further, depending on equipment availability.”
The number of hospital beds available in the counties’ community hospitals has
222 to close to 350. “General practice has responded positively, too, adapting to the challenging situation by introducing telephone triage and in some cases online consultations to continue meeting the needs of patients while minimising the risk of spreading coronavirus,” the three leaders said. “These changes, as well as other temporary changes we have made, are all vital to save lives and protect NHS resources. increased from
“All of us are adapting to changes in how we live, work and do everything we can to look after ourselves and each other.
“Social interaction is important as it is how we keep in touch and support one another, so do make use of technology.
“Pick up the phone and have online chats with family, friends and colleagues wherever you can.
“The weeks ahead may be among the most challenging we have ever known.
“We are working incredibly hard to make sure that we are as prepared as we can be for the expected surge in demand.
“Please continue to play your part by staying at home. Together, we will get through this.”
Locally, we expect cases to continue going up over the course of the next week or two