CRITICAL CARE
Liverpool hospital trust now treating more patients with coronavirus than it was in peak of first wave
HOSPITALS in Liverpool are now treating more coronavirus patients than they were during the peak of the pandemic's first wave, a medical director has said.
Dr Tristan Cope, medical director of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust, said hospital admissions were continuing to rise, as staff are put under "huge strain".
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Writing on Twitter, Dr Cope described the "very difficult situation" faced by the Royal, Aintree and Broadgreen hospitals in the city.
He wrote: "Sadly we are now treating more patients in hospital with Covid-19 @LivHospitals than we did in April at the peak of the first wave and numbers continue to rise.
"So important that people in #liverpool and @LivCityRegion adhere to social distancing restrictions.
"Treating so many Covid patients in addition to usual acute and emergency care of patients with non-Covid conditions puts a huge strain on @LivHospitals staff.
"Thank you to all our staff for their incredible hard work and dedication in dealing with this very difficult situation."
'WORST NIGHTMARE'
The Liverpool city region became the first area of the country to become subject to Tier 3 restrictions last week, with the new rules kicking in on October 15.
Liverpool City Council posted harrowing video footage of coronavirus patients in Royal Liverpool University Hospital just a day later, as frontline medics urged people to follow social distancing rules outside.
One sister said conditions on the intensive care ward are like "your worst nightmare".
Sadly we are now treating more patients in hospital with Covid-19 @LivHospitals than we did in April at the peak of the first wave and numbers continue to rise.
Dr Tristan Cope
The latest figures from NHS England show that as of October 20, there were 396 patients with coronavirus in hospitals run by the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust.
This is greater than numbers in the whole of the South West (217), the East of England (295), and the South East (325).
The figure is also eight times bigger than it was on the same day last month, when those same Liverpool hospitals were treating 49 patients with Covid-19.
Liverpool now has the third highest infection rate in the country according to the latest figures, although the numbers are dropping.
In the seven days up until October 17 there were 2,970 recorded new cases, meaning a rate of 596.3 cases per 100,000 people, down from 691.7.
Meanwhile, in Manchester, the number of patients in intensive care is around 40 per cent of numbers seen at the peak.
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Chief nurse of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Dianne Brown wrote on Twitter: "As Covid rates @LivHospitals exceed the number back in April, need to recognise the impact this is having on our staff .
"Thank you to each and everyone of you, it is mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting - you are doing an amazing job."
TIERING UP
The region's Tier 3 measures mean people in Liverpool and Merseyside cannot mix with other households anywhere indoors, or in private gardens.
Pubs and bars are also closed, but restaurants and pubs which serve "substantial" meals can stay open.
Boris Johnson initially urged gyms to close in the area too, but has since agreed they can reopen.
The Prime Minister said last week that the new rules were needed because "transmission is rising" and it is essential the NHS does not become overwhelmed to the point it cannot carry out other services.
If new restrictions are not brought in, Mr Johnson said: "Our doctors and nurses would be simply unable to devote themselves to other treatments for cancer and heart disease and hundreds more that have already, and would be delayed again.
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"(This would cause) serious long term damage to the health of the nation."
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It comes as the UK recorded the biggest ever rise in daily coronavirus cases yesterday, with 26,688 people testing positive in the past 24 hours.
Another 191 people died from the virus nationwide - taking the UK's grim toll to 44,158.
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