Plea from Harrogate Hospital to stay home after rise in Covid patients
The Trust have had to postpone some elective surgeries to free up staff so they can care for Covid-19 patients
Last updated 12th Jan 2021
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust have put out a plea for people to stay home after a rise in Covid-19 patients at the hospital.
There are currently 46 Covid-19 in patients in the trust, up from 19 patients in the last seven days.
The Trust has also recorded 113 deaths from the virus since the start of the pandemic.
Some planned elective surgeries have been postponed to free up staff to provide care for Covid-19 patients.
In the Facebook post, the Trust said the increase in patients is placing "significant strain on services" :
"Please, stay home.
"Nationally, there has been a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases in December and January, resulting in a large increase in hospitalisations. Increasing community transmissions in Harrogate and wider North Yorkshire is now translating into increased numbers presenting at Harrogate District Hospital.
"In the past week, we have seen a significant increase in the number of people with Covid-19 requiring inpatient care – we currently have ❤️ 46 Covid-19 inpatients ❤️ in the Trust, up from 19 a week ago. Clearly, this past week has seen a very significant increase of people needing inpatient care.
"This is placing a significant strain on services at the Trust. In response to rising numbers we are increasing the number of beds available for patients with Covid-19 on wards and in critical care. In order to do this, we unfortunately have to postpone some planned elective surgery to free up staff to provide care for Covid-19 patients. We will be continuing to provide urgent and cancer care during this time. Thank you to colleagues across the Trust – both in our hospitals and in the community – who continue to work extremely hard to care for patients.
"Please, for the sake of you, your loved ones and dedicated NHS staff, stick to the guidance.
"Please, stay home."
Dr Jacqueline Andrews, Executive Medical Director at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Despite this significant increase in inpatients with Covid-19, the Trust and the wider NHS remains open to all who need us. Please, do not put off attending appointments or speaking to a healthcare professional if you need to.
“My colleagues here at the Trust are working extremely hard to ensure your safety is paramount and we’ve put in place a range of different ways for patients to access our services during the pandemic.
“The vaccine means there is light at the end of the tunnel, but we have still have some way to go.
“We know these next week few weeks will be very tough, it impacts on all of us here as people. We have family, friends and loved ones too. Like everyone, we want to get back to normal as soon as is safely possible.
“Please look after yourself and your loved ones. Stay at home.”