NHS Grampian plea as Covid hospital admissions surge
Admissions are up by more than 40% in the last week with pressure growing on the health board.
Last updated 10th Sep 2021
NHS Grampian have made a plea to the public to help ease the pressure on front line medics.
The number of people requiring treatment in the region has surged by more than 40% in just one week.
The health board say around 50 patients are now in hospital with the virus, with about 10 intensive care beds being used.
This rise follows weeks of rocketing case numbers here.
Consultant Hugh Bishop said: “The support we need from the public is four-fold. Firstly, if you haven’t done already, go and get vaccinated if you are eligible and able to – not getting vaccinated might well be the reason you end up in intensive care, posing a risk to your health and your life.
"If your admission could have been avoided by being vaccinated, you are potentially taking away a bed or resource from a patient for whom vaccination has not been effective, an emergency trauma admission or a cancer patient and putting extra pressure on our system.
“Thanks to the vaccine we are seeing a smaller percentage of those infected needing hospital treatment and vastly fewer deaths. However, with cases at current levels, a small percentage of a big number, is a big number still being admitted.
“Secondly, Stop the Spike. Covid-19 cases are increasing rapidly and we can’t afford to let it run rampant, we need to get it back under control. So please, stick to guidelines. Don’t see all your friends or family at once, and where you can, meet people outdoors.
"In shops and other settings where it is advised, wear a face covering. On top of that take a LFD test twice a week to help stop the spread.
“Thirdly, phone 111 before attending at the Emergency Department or a Minor Injury Unit, unless you find yourself in a life-threatening situation – for example a suspected heart attack or stroke in which case phone 999. This allows us to manage flow through the hospital better and reduce waiting times.
“Lastly, if you have a friend or relative that is in hospital and is ready for discharge, please, please come and get them as soon as possible. We see a huge number of discharges at around 6pm every night, as people come to collect their loved ones after their work.
“We need people to collect their loved-ones as early as possible, it helps us increase capacity in the hospital and free-up beds. Dozens of employers have signed-up to our Pick Me Up Project and have promised to be flexible in letting their staff collect friends and family from hospital in order to support us. We once again thank them for their support and ask members of the public to do their part in freeing up beds.”