Queen Elizabeth Hospital prepares for challenging weeks ahead
The Trust is looking at staffing options with capacity stretched.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn says it's looking at every option to maximise staffing, with the next few weeks expected to be more challenging.
Caroline Shaw, who's the Chief Executive of the Trust said: "The modelling suggests that the next few weeks will be more challenging still and when our capacity is likely to be at its most stretched as we continue to respond to COVID-19.
"We are exploring every option to maximise our staffing position and to keep our patients as safe as we can...
"...including fantastic support from our local and system partners, redeploying staff internally to support on our wards, wherever possible, and drawing on support from our volunteers."
The local Borough Council says it's always had a close working relationship with the hospital, one that has continued throughout the whole of the pandemic.
As the hospital faces even tougher challenges, the authority says it's been in contact with the Trust to find out how it can help.
Lorraine Gore, who's the Chief Executive of the Borough council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, said: "We have been working with the hospital long before Covid started.
"We have established schemes in place to speed up discharges from hospital beds including our buddy button scheme which provides patients going home with reassurance that help is at the touch of a button at no cost for a few weeks, and District Direct which ensures any property adaptations that are needed to enable a patient to return home safely are prioritised.
"This is more important now than ever as it relieves the pressure on hospital beds.
"We are also prioritising falls preventions measures for those who may have had to wait for appointments due to Covid to help reduce the chance of them needing a hospital admission.
"At the start of the pandemic we provided support by way of childcare facilities for NHS staff so that they could continue to work.
"In addition to everything that is already in place, we have been in constant dialogue with the hospital.
"In readiness for what is believed to be a very challenging period ahead, we have offered to redeploy some of our staff at short notice to provide admin support where this is helpful, for example to ensure that the vaccination programme is not slowed down due to lack of resources.
"If there is a wider ask for resources that is beyond our capacity, we will direct the request through to our Norfolk Resilience Forum partners.
"While this support may impact on our own resources and some of the services we provide, it is vital that we prioritise support actions to respond to the pandemic."