Doncaster hospital bosses warn Covid admissions "rising rapidly"
The trust is treating almost 150 patients with virus
Last updated 22nd Oct 2020
Doncaster hospital bosses tell us it's becoming more and more difficult for them to manage a "dramatic" rise in coronavirus patients.
More than a hundred people with the virus are now being treated at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary and doctors fear the second wave could soon end up as busy as the first.
Dr Tim Noble's Medical Director at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:
"The situation now is getting increasingly difficult. The numbers are rapidly rising. Our beds are occupied with well over a hundred patients who have tested positive for Covid and going back a few weeks we were down in single figues. So the change has been quite dramatic.
"At the moment we do have a number of patients on intensive care both at Doncaster and at Bassetlaw Hospital. It very much looks like the second wave is going to be a similar sort of number of patients coming in.
"The numbers in the Spring were higher than we have now but our numbers are increasing very quickly."
The DRI has already restricted visiting again due to rising coronavirus cases.
The trust is also urging people to only use Accident and Emergency if it's a genuine emergency or they have a scheduled appointment.
Dr Noble says the rise in admissions is taking a toll on staff:
"It's tough. We're in the healthcare business - we want to look after people and we want to do a good job. But it is hard. It's very hard working in these conditions and it's harrowing to see people becoming ill and some people not making it. It's very difficult.__
"So we want to do everything we can to minimise the spread of the virus."
"If people are complacent about social distancing they're not doing any favours for themselves or others.
"The virus is spreading again and we do see evidence of people not adhering to the two-metre rule. I think it's really important to emphasise that this is the sort of thing that's going to keep us safe.
"We know that winter is always a tough time in hospitals. More people are poorly in winter and need hospital care, we've got the expectation of flu coming round and we know that Covid will continue to increase for a period of time.
"We're anticipating a very diffucult period ahead but we're doing all we can to manage that as best we can. But we need the help of the public as well."
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