Impact of restrictions beginning to show, but warning to be cautious before loosening guidance
Northsound is this morning speaking to Cameron Matthew from NHS Grampian's Acute services unit about how restrictions are beginning to show in data, if people are following guidance, and how a surge in patients in the past few weeks has effected he and his colleagues.
We are beginning to see the benefit of Covid restrictions, but we shouldn't rush out of them just yet.
That's the opinion of NHS Grampian's Interim Deputy Chief Officer of Acute Services, Cameron Matthew.
Speaking to Northsound he says we are starting to see the hard graft of following guidelines reflected in data.
Last week NHS Grampian had more people in Hospital for Covid related issues than ever before.
Since then the figure has fallen by 13.
"That peak has come with a number of particularly unwell patients"
On the current situation Mr Matthew said:
"We saw last week a peak in numbers, and it has plateaued essentially since that point"
"We are still seeing a fair number of Covid positive patients admitted on a daily basis, but we have seen a sort of peaking of that."
"The sad thing is that peak has come with a number of particularly unwell patients."
'No new deaths'
Yesterday another 113 cases were registered in the NHS Grampian health board region.
124 people are in hospital, 11 of those in the ICU.
Nationally another 1429 people have newly tested positive across the nation.
There's a small increase of people in Hospital across Scotland, now totaling 1,959 with 146 of those in the ICU.
No new deaths were registered across the country yesterday(Jan 18 2021)
"...which would suggest the lockdown has not been as fully compliant as the last time."
Mr Matthew told Northsound in regards to if people in the North East were following rules:
"I think we are certainly still seeing a fairly high numbers of patients coming through the door, which would suggest that the lockdown has not been as fully compliant as the last time."
"It may be part of the hangover from people meeting up over Christmas and New Year."
"I'm also really conscious that the streets appear an awful lot busier as well."
On when we move out of the restrictions Mr Matthew said:
"I would like to see us being quite cautious about the step back in to the tier approach."
"Our numbers would suggest we aren't really there yet and I think anything too quickly would have a negative impact on our health services and other services."
"The emotional impact on my colleagues and myself with this has been really quite stark"
Speaking on the difficulty mentally for he and his colleagues working in Covid ward Mr Matthew said:
"I've seen a lot of people who are just very tired and exhausted."
"Not quite at the point of breaking, we are a very resilient bunch, we just have to get on it"
"But there are lots of people who are clearly tired who have to just get up the next day and do it, and we do."