In the weeks leading up to Christmas we have seen a slight rise in the number of Covid-19 positive cases within our hospitals. This is an important reminder ahead of the festive period to stay safe, think very carefully about your “Christmas bubble”, and continue to follow guidance on hands, face and space.

Covid-19 vaccines are well underway in Nottinghamshire and Nottingham. Our Hospital Hubs are calling forward patients who meet the criteria based on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s recommendations.

It is expected that Vaccination Centres and Local Vaccination Services within the community will launch in the coming weeks once the sites have been approved and meet the safety criteria.

Latest figures:

• We have seen 211 admissions relating to Covid-19 in the seven days to 13th December, compared with 195 for the previous seven days.
• We have 381 beds occupied by Covid+ patients as of 15th December, this compares to 372 on 6th December.
• Of those 381 beds, 9% were mechanically ventilated.
• We now have 29% more people in our hospitals than we did at the peak of the first wave in April.
• The numbers are starting to rise again which is worrying as we head into the Christmas period.
• In the week from 10th December – 16th December we saw 46 deaths, up from the 39 we reported at the same time last week
• In October, we saw 536,306 appointments in general practice. Of those half a million appointments, 58% were face-to-face, and just under half (46%) were on the same day or the next day, up from 44% for October last year.
• So far, we have had more than 2,000 applications to support with the Covid-19 vaccination delivery with more than 800 people ready to start. If you are interested in helping to support the NHS in the delivery of this important and exciting work than please visit: https://www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk/work-for-us/our-vacancies/influenza-and-the-covid-19-vaccine-bank-opportunities/
• To date, 314,501 flu vaccinations have been administered and recorded, with 14,431 in the last 7 days. This is 67% 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/

Dr Andy Haynes, Executive Lead, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System, said: “Our vaccination programme is now well underway within our Hospital Hubs and we have already vaccinated a lot of people. This is very positive in our fight against the virus but it won’t fix the situation overnight, we need to continue to follow the guidance. We will start to vaccinate more people in the community in the next few weeks and the public have an important part to play to help us. It is important that you do not contact the NHS to seek a vaccine; we will contact you when the time is right. When we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments.

“The guidance from the government states that people may choose to form a ‘Christmas bubble’, mixing with people from no more than three households during the five day Christmas period from 23 to 27 December. We would ask that you think very carefully about your bubble and think of elderly or clinically vulnerable relatives. It is important we continue to follow national guidelines and think about how we can be cautious – keep houses ventilated, wash touch points regularly and minimise contact.

“Our hospital numbers reflect the seriousness of the situation and we cannot let our guard down, we are not out of the woods yet so we must continue to follow the guidance. This Christmas the best present we can give our families is to keep them safe.”

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

The best way that we can all help with the situation is by following the Tier 3 (Very High) guidance but remember that healthcare is a specific exemption – so if you are ill please get in touch like you would usually and stick to your appointments unless you hear otherwise.