Plea from Harrogate Hospital staff as Trust sees record Covid patient numbers
The hospital is currently treating 57 coronavirus patients
Last updated 29th Jan 2021
The number of Covid patients being treated at Harrogate hospital today hit another record high as staff appealed to the public to protect the NHS by staying at home.
The hospital is currently treating 57 coronavirus patients – a figure which has risen sharply since Christmas and broken its record three times this month.
David Mattinson, medical registrar at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Harrogate has been exceptionally busy over the weeks following Christmas with many extremely sick patients requiring admission to hospital.
“Please stay at home and follow national guidance to ensure we can provide high quality care to everyone who needs it.
“Thank you to all my colleagues in the trust who are working like a family, supporting each other through the good and bad and keeping the population of Harrogate safe.”
Across North Yorkshire, 504 people are now in hospital with Covid-19, more than 200 above the peak of the first wave in April.
The increase comes as the Harroagte borough’s seven-day infection rate per 100,000 drops to 208, its lowest level during January and below the national average of 351.
Harrogate hospital has reported 123 Covid deaths since the start of the pandemic. It has also discharged 433 virus patients.
Earlier this month, the hospital trust postponed some non-urgent surgery to free up staff to help deal with the increasing numbers of Covid patients
Urgent cases and cancer care are not affected, and the trust said people should still seek medical help in emergencies and attend appointments.
In non-emergencies, patients should call NHS 111.