"We don't want to end up overwhelmed like London" says Harrogate Hospital boss
We're being urged to stick to the rules to protect the region's NHS
The Executive Medical Director at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust is urging residents to stick to the latest lockdown rules so not to put the hospital at risk.
Increasing coronavirus rates risk putting more strain on the hospital, which is already struggling with winter pressures.
Dr Jacqueline Andrews, Executive Medical Director at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:
Dr Jacqueline Andrews, Executive Medical Director at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said: "All of us are anxiously watching what's going on in other Trusts up and down the country and they're under extreme pressure at the moment. We have an opportunity as a community to keep our numbers of covid cases down.
"It's really important we take the lockdown seriously. we've seen what's happening in London and we have to make sure we minimise the impact of covid on Harrogate.
"It has been going on for many months and I know people are tired and are getting a bit weary, but that support from the community is really good for morale. It will help us get through these next few months and of course there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel."
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There are currently 28 people being treated for covid-19 in Harrogate District Hospital, but there are over 270 being treated across North Yorkshire.
Dr Andrews is urging people to reach out to the NHS if they have any medical worries and to not be put off by the pandemic. She said: “The Trust and the wider NHS remains open to all who need us, so please do not put off attending appointments or talking to our healthcare professionals if you develop any symptoms you are concerned about. 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.
"I am enormously grateful to all colleagues at the Trust – in our hospitals and in our community services – for the incredible way they have approached the challenges of Covid-19, and I thank them for all they are doing.”
Tim Gold, Chief Operating Officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, also has the same message.
He said: “We would like to reassure patients and members of the public that during this national lockdown, our delivery of services continues unchanged. We will continue to monitor the situation and if anything changes, we will let people know.
“Please, if you have an appointment with us, attend. We have put in place arrangements to keep you safe when you attend hospital or when our colleagues treat you at home.
“If you do feel uncomfortable attending or are isolating, please let us know via the contact details on your appointment letter. This will help us be able to offer that appointment slot to someone else.
“We continue to use telephone/virtual appointments for outpatients, unless we need to see someone in person for clinical reasons or where remote appointments are not possible."
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