New Covid restrictions
We recognise that there is a lot in the media at the moment about our hospitals as discussions have been taking place about our community moving into Tier 3.
As numbers of Covid positive cases in Nottingham and the county increase, we have of course seen an increase in the numbers of Covid positive patients needing treatment at the QMC and City Hospitals; in fact this week we have more Covid positive patients in our beds than we did at the peak in April. And we are managing these patients on top of those needing emergency or planned care for non-Covid related issues.
In the first wave there was a decision nationally to stop all but urgent and cancer care to ensure hospitals had the capacity to treat the numbers of patients that were predicted. This time, we are trying to carry on with the day job and treat Covid patients. This is causing challenges, but we are working really hard to see everyone that needs us. However, because the number of Covid patients is rising we need to make decisions on a daily basis about what planned appointments and operations we can carry out. It’s a balance, albeit a difficult one.
Unfortunately, as often happens in winter, when we see more emergency patients, those patients that don’t need urgent or emergency care end up waiting a bit longer for their operation or appointment. This is always a difficult decision to make, but we have to manage our resources as best as we can. For those who have their operation or appointment postponed or cancelled, we are truly sorry, it wasn’t an easy or simple decision for us to make and we understand the impact it will have on you and your loved ones.
Our staff are also your friends and neighbours, and as the cases amongst the community increase so do the cases amongst our staff. We are doing all we can to manage that and in the last two weeks we have carried out 11,000 covid tests on our frontline staff. Those testing positive or who have been exposed to positive colleagues or patients are going into self-isolation. This is stretching our workforce.
Winter is traditionally a difficult time for the NHS and this year it will be no different. Our clinical teams have pulled together some really great plans to see us through the winter, but we are having to adapt these quickly as more patients end up in our beds. We will not get it right for everyone, but we will make decisions based on what is best for the majority, balancing the risk of patients getting worse as a result of any delays against the risk of them catching, or even dying, from Covid.
We recognise that there is a lot of fake news out there, but we wanted to be really clear, Covid is real and we are treating a large number of patients who have tested positive for Covid.
Our plea is that you follow the updated Tier 3 guidance, continue to wear a mask over your nose and mouth, observe the 2m rule and wash your hands. The person next to you could be carrying the virus without showing any symptoms, so please protect yourself and those around you.
Please, stay safe.
For further information see: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/new-covid-restrictions