An increase in patients being admitted to our hospitals with Covid-19 has resulted in more than twice the amount of patients than we saw at the peak of the first wave last April.

Our hospitals are facing an increased pressure and our NHS staff are working hard to keep the public safe. We can all help by following the national guidance to stay at home and making sure we choose the right service for our needs – if in doubt use the 111 service.

The vaccination programme in Nottinghamshire is underway and we would remind the public to not call their GP or turn up at A&E or doctor’s surgery – please follow the instructions in the letter to make an appointment.

Latest hospital figures:

• We have seen 427 admissions relating to Covid-19 in the seven days to 10th January, compared with 348 for the previous seven days.
• We have 625 beds occupied by Covid+ patients as of the 12th January, this compares to 507 on 5^th January.
• Of those 625 beds, 8% were mechanically ventilated.
• We now have more than double the amount of people in our hospitals with Covid-19 than we did at the peak of the first wave in April.
• In the week from 7^th January – 13^th January we saw 63 deaths.
• Latest figures show that we have administered 325,923 flu vaccinations. This is 69% of the eligible population. Find out more about flu and if you are eligible for a free flu vaccine here: https://nottm-ccg-archive.ginger-root.co.uk/flu-guidance/
• In November, we saw 482,905 appointments in general practice. Of those, 55% were face-to-face, and half (50%) were on the same day or the next day.

Dr Andy Haynes, Executive Lead, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System, said: “The vaccine programme is ramping up in our county, at the end of this week we will have nine sites live offering the vaccine to those who are most vulnerable in our communities, with more to open in the coming weeks. All letters to over 80s inviting them for a vaccine will arrive early next week and we are still on track to deliver these vaccines to all over 80s by the end of the month. My message to the community is to encourage your loved ones to take up this offer of a free vaccine; we want to make sure everyone is protected.

“The pressure on our hospitals remains a great concern this week with numbers of patients more than double what we saw in April 2020. We must continue to follow the guidance in order to make sure these numbers fall next month. NHS staff and volunteers are working exceptionally hard to maintain these services and look after those who are admitted. I am grateful for all they continue to do under such difficult circumstances.

“Finally, I would like to thank the public for your continued patience with the vaccine rollout – there is light at the end of the tunnel, but remember, this is a huge challenge and our teams are working exceptionally hard to coordinate and administer the vaccine to those in our communities as quickly as possible.”

Remember:

The NHS is here for you and so if you are concerned about a new lump or mole or have any other health issues then please get in touch with your GP or in an emergency call 999. If you are unsure which service you need, call 111 or go to 111 Online who will advise you on the best service for your needs.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus, including a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of smell or taste, then get a test by calling 119 or go online to https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

For more information about the Covid-19 vaccination programme, please click here.