Covid patients at Sheffield hospitals near first wave peak after alarming surge in cases

Bosses at Sheffield’s hospitals have issued an urgent public appeal following an alarming surge in the number of Covid-19 patients.
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Sheffield Teaching Hospitals is now caring for around 245 patients with coronavirus, 15 of whom are in intensive care.

That’s up from a low of 20 in August and approaching the peak of just under 300 Covid-19 patients whom the trust was treating at the Northern General and Royal Hallamshire hospitals during the pandemic’s first wave in April, when around 35 people were in intensive care.

Hospitals in Sheffield are now caring for around 245 patients with coronavirusHospitals in Sheffield are now caring for around 245 patients with coronavirus
Hospitals in Sheffield are now caring for around 245 patients with coronavirus
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Hospitals are also having to cope with fewer staff, as around 900 of the trust’s 18,000-strong workforce are absent – many having had to take leave to care for children who are self-isolating.

Kirsten Major, the trust’s chief executive, said: “We are prepared for this second increase in cases of Covid-19 patients but we do need everyone to help us limit the spread of this awful virus to try and halt the increase in cases coming in.

“We have ITU capacity, PPE stocks and of course we have the benefit of learning from the first wave and we have more treatments available to us to help patients. We are continually monitoring the situation and responding by bringing in different elements of our plans. This is something we are used to doing when managing surges in demand each winter.

“What is very different this time to wave one is that we are also trying to provide as much non Covid-19 care as we can, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. In reality this means that we have an additional 500 non-Covid-19 patients in our hospitals today than we did in wave one when all hospitals were asked to cancel planned operations.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals chief executive Kirsten Major says everyone has a role to play in limiting the spread of coronavirusSheffield Teaching Hospitals chief executive Kirsten Major says everyone has a role to play in limiting the spread of coronavirus
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals chief executive Kirsten Major says everyone has a role to play in limiting the spread of coronavirus
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"Our teams are working exceptionally hard to try and keep planned operations and care going. However, no one should underestimate how complex this is given we have to ensure we keep Covid and non-Covid patients separate and we also have an increase in demand through A&E which we did not have in wave one.

“We are also very mindful of the demands we are placing on our 18,000 staff now and in the coming months given this is the second time they have dealt with a surge in Covid-19 cases, planned care is also continuing and we have the normal pressures of winter and flu to come still.

“We have been very fortunate that we have had very low levels of staff absence during the pandemic, due in part to our staff testing service, but we are currently seeing an increase (five per cent) due partly to staff needing leave to care for children who are self-isolating and not in school or as a consequence of the higher prevalence of the virus in the community.

Joan Pons Laplana, a Unison spokesman at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, says Tier 3 restrictions are 'not there to make people's lives miserable, they're in place to save lives and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed'Joan Pons Laplana, a Unison spokesman at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, says Tier 3 restrictions are 'not there to make people's lives miserable, they're in place to save lives and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed'
Joan Pons Laplana, a Unison spokesman at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, says Tier 3 restrictions are 'not there to make people's lives miserable, they're in place to save lives and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed'

"We have plans in place to manage this situation to ensure patients continue to receive the care they need but again the fewer Covid cases we have coming in, the less the demands are on staff during this time.

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“In summary, we have the plans, commitment and amazing people geared up to deliver as much care as possible but we need local people to help us too.

"We are asking for the support of everyone in our local communities to try and contain the spread of the virus because the fewer patients we have in hospital with Covid-19, the more capacity we have to continue routine care.

"Following the rules does really make the difference. Everyone across the city and beyond was so supportive of our staff during the first wave of this dreadful pandemic and we need that same level of support now to help us, help you and your loved ones.”

The trust says people can play their part by:

- limiting the chances of spreading the virus to others, which includes washing your hands, wearing a face covering, keeping your distance from others and following the Tier 3 rules

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- attending appointments and operations as planned unless informed otherwise

- speaking to your GP if you are worried about a symptom that could be cancer or another serious illness

- only using A&E in an emergency. For all other circumstances, you can get advice from NHS 111 or visit sheffieldurgentcare.co.uk which has waiting times, opening times and other useful information on where is the best place to get care.

Unison spokesman Joan Pons Laplana, who works for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said: “We're doing well as a trust and we're not overwhelmed but that's no reason to be complacent because we don't want to get back into a situation like earlier in the year.

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"Please help us to help you by following the Tier 3 restrictions. They're not there to make people's lives miserable, they're in place to save lives and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed."

Boris Johnson is under growing pressure to impose heightened coronavirus restrictions as the UK recorded its highest daily Covid-19 death toll since May.

It comes as fears were raised of the second wave being more deadly than the first.

With total deaths involving the virus reaching 61,000 across the nation, Downing Street did not deny a projection provided by Government scientists which suggested the toll could remain high throughout the winter and result in more fatalities than in the spring.

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The Telegraph reported the analysis shared by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has lead to intense lobbying from experts including chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Valance to take more drastic action.

A Government spokeswoman said ministers were receiving advice from a “wide range of scientific and medical experts” and that the latest figures are “concerning”.

The Sun also reported Sage analysis suggests the highest level of restrictions, Tier 3, may be needed across all of England by mid-December.