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    14

    Jul 2022

    Last Updated: 14/07/2022
    Health
    Health

    Positive covid patients at Harrogate hospital doubles in three weeks

    by Calvin Robinson

    | 14 Jul, 2022
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    Health officials say hospitals are under extreme pressure and some operations people have been waiting a long time for could be delayed.

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    Harrogate District Hospital, Lancaster Park Road.

    The number of patients at Harrogate District Hospital who tested positive for covid has more than doubled in three weeks.

    Latest figures supplied by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust show 35 covid-positive patients are currently in hospital — a rise from 14 on June 25.

    Of that number, six are primarily receiving treatment for covid.

    The figure peaked at 42 positive patients on July 5, but has since declined.

    Harrogate hospital officials have put the rise in cases down to the spread of the more transmissible Omicron variant.

    Health officials have warned that hospitals are under extreme pressure due to a rise in cases.

    West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts, which includes Harrogate hospital, said that the increase in cases has meant the availability of beds has been impacted.




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    This combined with covid-related staff sickness means patients are also facing delays for planned treatment, officials said.

    Dr Phil Wood, chief medical officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 

    “The significant upsurge in covid-19 cases in West Yorkshire and Harrogate means that our hospitals are facing extreme pressures. Our teams are doing everything they can to make sure that services are safe and, in some cases, planned treatment may need to be postponed.
    “We are aware that some people have been waiting for planned operations for a very long time and, wherever possible, we will ensure these go ahead as planned.
    “Thankfully, the number of very seriously ill people needing treatment in intensive care for covid-19 is very small and accounts for less than two per cent of total inpatient cases. 
    “The covid-19 vaccine is very effective at preventing severe disease in those who have been immunised and I’d encourage anyone who has not yet had their vaccine to book an appointment through the NHS.uk website."