‘ Number of Covid patients is far beyond first wave’
South Yorkshire hospitals report higher numbers
HOSPITALS IN South Yorkshire are reporting higher numbers of Covid- 19 patients than during the first wave, amid reports that admissions in the North East and Yorkshire region could soon outstrip the North West.
The trust which runs Doncaster Royal Infirmary said it had seen one of its largest daily rises of admissions of patients testing positive for Covid- 19 and is now caring for numbers “far beyond the first wave earlier this year”.
Rotherham Hospital also reported higher numbers of Covid positive inpatients on Monday than at the height of the first wave.
The Health Service Journal ( HSJ) reported that the latest NHS data showed a 42 per cent increase in Covid patients admitted or newly- diagnosed in North East and Yorkshire hospitals.
It said 12.2 per cent of acute and general beds in South Yorkshire – which moved into the highest Tier 3 restrictions on Saturday – were occupied by Covid patients, up from 2.2 per cent a month before.
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said cases had almost doubled over last Sunday, adding: “In the past 24 hours, we have admitted a number of patients who have tested positive for Covid- 19 and, as a result, we are now caring for 201 such individuals – far beyond the first wave earlier this year.”
It comes as the trust which runs hospitals in the Hull area said they had seen a sharp rise in the past 72 hours, and now had 53 Covid- positive patients, including eight in critical care.
Whilst still half the peak number of cases ( 110) seen in the first wave, health chiefs warned against complacency by saying the area tends to lag behind the curve.
Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust said as of yesterday morning they had 96 patients in Rotherham Hospital, including six in critical care.
During the initial peak, the highest number of Covid- positive patients at any one time was 78.
Chief operating officer at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Teresa Cope told a press conference they had seen a steady rise in cases in recent weeks but “that has changed in the last 72 hours”.
She said: “We have seen amuch more rapid increase in numbers admitted who are Covid positive.
“Whilst we are not currently at the levels that we saw at the peak of the pandemic, it is very apparent that we are in a second wave.”
The HSJ has reported that Yorkshire appeared to be driving the increase in hospital admissions in the North East and Yorkshire region – pointing to the rapid rises in South Yorkshire and, to a lesser extent, in West Yorkshire and Harrogate.
Hospitals in the region saw a 42 per cent increase in patients in the week to October 23 compared to a 17 per cent rise in the North West.