Covid cases soar in Kent hospitals

Doctors are now ‘back in the eye of storm’

The number of patients in hospital with coronavirus has soared to record highs across Kent.

At all four of the county’s hospital trusts there are now far more people receiving care who have tested positive for Covid-19 than at the peak of the first wave.

But the numbers of people seriously ill on ventilators has not surpassed April’s figures.

Across Kent there are 1,012 patients in hospital, 90% more than the 532 seen during the peak of the first wave.

At East Kent Hospitals - a trust which runs the William Harvey, Kent and Canterbury and Margate’s QEQM - there are currently 364 Covid-19 patients, with 28 on ventilators.

That compares to peaks of 187 and 35 during the first wave, a period when the trust hit the headlines for its high figures for in-hospital transmission and deaths.

Medway Maritime is caring for 227 patients, including 10 on ventilators, compared to April peaks of 136 and 27.

At Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, which manages two hospitals, the figure is now 253 and 15, against 98 and 25.

And there are 168 patients, with five on ventilators, at Darent Valley, compared to peaks of 111 and 20 in April.

The figures come as images were published showing ambulances queueing at Medway Maritime.

While every year winter puts immense pressure on the NHS and ambulances have been known to queue before, this year Covid-19 represents a new strain on that already struggling system. On Tuesday, NHS chief Sir Simon Stevens warned doctors were “back in the eye of the storm”.

The number of patients in intensive care has not yet reached the April peaks