Harrogate Covid patient numbers rise again but Sage predicts NHS will cope this winter
Latest figures show there were 25 Covid patients at the hospital on Monday – the highest level since March
The number of Covid patients at Harrogate hospital has risen again but government advisers predict the NHS will not be overwhelmed this winter.
Latest figures show there were 25 Covid patients at the hospital on Monday – the highest level since March and a rise from 19 the same time last week.
The hospital also reported another Covid-related death on Thursday which took its death toll since the pandemic began up to 194.
But the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) believes that high vaccine uptake coupled with natural protection will keep the figures below those seen last winter when Covid patient numbers at Harrogate hospital peaked at 67 in January.
Sage said it was “highly unlikely” that the NHS would be overwhelmed by the virus this winter – even without restrictions under the government’s Plan B including mandatory Covid passports, working from home and the compulsory wearing of face masks.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also echoed the optimism of his advisers, recently saying the current numbers were “fully in line” with what was expected for this time of year.
Despite this, Russell Nightingale, chief operating officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said the increase in Covid patients was still putting increased pressure on the hospital ahead of winter which is “always a challenging time”.
He said: “The vaccine programme has undoubtedly had a big impact and we are seeing far fewer Covid patients in intensive care with severe symptoms.
“However, as we are now mixing more compared to this time last year, there is the potential that Covid infections will continue to rise and we will start to see an increase in the number of patients with other respiratory viruses.
“Whilst most Covid restrictions have now been lifted, the virus has not gone away.
“We would encourage people to get vaccinated if they have not already done so, and have their booster if they are eligible.”
Booster jabs for over 50s and the clinically vulnerable are now available at walk-in sites which are also offering vaccines to 12 to 15-year-olds, although patients in Harrogate face a trip to Wakefield or Halifax if they want to use this method.
Vaccines for these groups can still be booked by appointment at the Chain Lane pharmacy in Knaresborough, while Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground will reopen as a pop-up vaccine centre for two weeks in December for an expected busy period of booster jabs.
It comes as Harrogate’s weekly infection rate continues to fall with the latest figure now standing at 552 cases per 100,000 people.
That marks a 25% drop from when the rate peaked at 739 last month, although the latest figure is still above the North Yorkshire and England averages of 499 and 415.