NUMBER OF COVID PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL DOUBLES IN 2 WEEKS
No comparable rise in seriously ill people
THE number of patients with Covid-19 at Staffordshire’s main hospital trust has more than doubled in two weeks.
There were 122 covid-positive patients occupying beds at University Hospitals of North Midlands as of June 28, up from 60 on June 12. But this increase, also seen in hospitals nationwide, has so far not resulted in a comparable rise in patients becoming seriously ill with covid.
As of June 28 there were no covid-positive patients requiring mechanical ventilation at UHNM.
The increase in hospital cases reflects rising infection rates in the community, both in North Staffordshire and across the country.
The Office for National Statistics estimated on July 1 that about one in 30 people were infected with coronavirus, up from one in 40 a week earlier. Scientists believe this is being largely driven by the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5.
Tracy Bullock, chief executive of UHNM, will give trust board members an update on the Covid situation at their meeting today.
In her written report, Ms Bullock says although the rise in covid infections had also resulted in increased staff sickness, it had not yet had an impact on elective treatments.
She states: “During the last few weeks there has been an increase in the number of patients with covid in the community. As per the usual pattern, we are now seeing a corresponding increase in patients being admitted to hospital.
“As at the 23 June 2022 we have 107, which is an increase from the previous 50 patients. Unfortunately, this means our staff sickness levels are also increasing.
“This describes the picture with Covid-19 at a national level.
“While we are seeing this upturn, as of yet this has not impacted on our delivery plan for planned and elective procedures and we continue to make good progress in relation to elective backlogs.”