Harrogate hospital among 10 trusts at full critical care capacity

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust is one of 10 NHS trusts in England consistently reporting critical care beds at full capacity, according to the latest figures.

NHS data from December 31 until January 10 shows Harrogate District Hospital’s critical care ward is full.

The hospital’s base critical care capacity is seven beds but this can ‘flex’ to 10 and beyond, trust chief executive Steve Russell told the Stray Ferret in November.

It utilised 11 beds on January 6 and January 9 and although the number has fluctuated it has not dropped below eight this year.

The number of critical care beds in Harrogate is nowhere near as high as it is for many hospitals in larger towns and cities.

Nevertheless, the analysis by the BBC names it as one of 10 trusts out of 140 with consistently full critical care beds.

An NHS spokesperson told the Stray Ferret:

“Critical care services in the NHS are under unprecedented pressure, which is why we’ve increased capacity significantly to continue to provide care.

“Hospitals continue to work to increase their capacity to help patients with covid and other conditions but ultimately it is essential the public continues to follow the ‘hands, face, space’ guidance to prevent the spread of coronavirus, reduce the number of people who need hospital care and ultimately save lives.”

The total number of available critical care beds in England on January 10 was 5,503, with 4,632 occupied.

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Harrogate District Hospital reported it had 47 coronavirus patients on January 14.

The increase in coronavirus patients prompted the hospital to announce last week it had decided to postpone some non-emergency surgeries to free up space and staff.

Tim Gold, the chief operating officer at the trust, said:

“Clearly, this past week has seen a very significant increase of people needing inpatient care.

“This is placing a significant strain on services at the trust.

“In response to rising numbers we are increasing the number of beds available for patients with covid on wards and in critical care.

“We will be continuing to provide urgent and cancer care during this time.”

Could you volunteer to drive people to vaccination appointments?

A Harrogate charity is calling for more volunteers to come forward to drive patients to coronavirus vaccine appointments.

Harrogate and District Community Action has a small team of volunteers helping people who would otherwise struggle to get to their appointments.

The volunteers work with Harrogate Easier Living Project, which is part of HADCA, to offer the service.

Frances Elliot, chief executive at HADCA, said the team now needed more volunteers after huge interest in the programme.

She said:

“We urgently require more volunteer drivers to join our small team. Applicants would need to be in possession of a DBS check less than two years old.

“All volunteers are being trained in the new covid guidelines to ensure we can offer a safe and trusted service.”

It comes as the government’s covid vaccination programme is set to offer jabs to over 70s this week. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set a target of February 15 to offer all those in the top four priority vulnerable groups the vaccine.

Vaccinations in the Harrogate district are being administered at the Great Yorkshire Showground. However, a mass vaccination hub has opened today in York, which offers jabs to those within a 45 minute distance.

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HADCA’s appeal for volunteers comes as the charity celebrates carrying out 5,000 tasks in the community to help people stay safe at home during the pandemic.

The HELP team has offered practical and emotional help to people since the coronavirus crisis began in March.

HELP team members celebrate the milestone of completing 5,000 tasks for those in need in the Harrogate community and appeal for more volunteer drivers.

HELP team members celebrate the milestone of completing 5,000 tasks for those in need in the Harrogate community.

Nadine Bleasby, one of the volunteers, said it felt important to help her community, no matter how small the task. She said:

“It was the first time I’d done something like this, but I figured I could easily manage a couple of extra supermarket trips a week to help out people currently not able to do so and I think I’ve taken in all of Harrogate’s supermarkets over the last nine months. 

“I’ve met some lovely people, some on an ad-hoc basis, and others I’ve got to know a little better as I’ve shopped more regularly for them.

“It’s not really about the shopping though, it’s about human contact and taking the time for a conversation and seeing how people are coping. That has been the unexpected but heart-warming element, simply having a chat.”

To volunteer for HADCA’s driving force and other services, contact help@hadca.org.uk or call 01423 813096. 

Harrogate hotels ready to offer beds for coronavirus patients

Three major Harrogate hotels are ready to offer up beds to the NHS for coronavirus patients should they asked to help.

The Crowne Plaza, Cedar Court Harrogate and the Majestic Hotel and Spa have all thrown their weight behind the proposals.

Each have hundreds of beds which could be used to ease pressure on the NHS.

The hotel beds could be used for those patients on the recovery path, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed on Sky News.

NHS England’s media team has declined to give more details.

When asked about the potential for hotel beds to be used Mr Hancock said:

“We would only ever do that if it was clinically the right thing for somebody.

“But in some cases, people need step-down care, they don’t actually need to be in a hospital bed.”

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Wayne Topley, the managing director of the Cedar Court Hotels Group Yorkshire, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are here to help and in the spirit of kindness we are focused on what our hotels can do to support the now critical effort.

“In Harrogate we are in touch with number of care providers, primarily the hospital itself. We have reached out to offer our support and they know we are here if they need us.”

A spokesman for the Cairn Hotel Group, which owns and operates the Majestic Hotel and Spa, also said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with other industry leaders to offer support and help to the NHS if and when needed.”

A spokesman for the Crowne Plaza, which is connected to Harrogate’s Nightingale Hospital and pictured above lighting up for the NHS, said:

“We already have a good working relationship with the NHS team in Harrogate. We are open to further conversation.”

Harrogate District Hospital confirmed yesterday that it currently has 47 coronavirus patients, up from 28 a week ago.

This surge in patients has forced the hospital to postpone some non-emergency surgeries to free up space and staff to deal with coronavirus patients.

Two further covid patient deaths at Harrogate Hospital

Two further patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died at Harrogate District Hospital.

According to NHS England figures, the deaths were reported on January 13. It takes the death toll at the hospital since March up to 119.

Meanwhile, a further 84 coronavirus cases have been recorded in the Harrogate district.

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Figures today from Public Health England show the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic has now increased up to 5,855.

Harrogate hospital covid death total reaches 117

Another patient who tested positive for coronavirus has died at Harrogate District Hospital, it was revealed today.

According to NHS England, the death was reported on January 13. It takes the total number of deaths at the hospital since March up to 117.

Currently, 47 patients are being treated for coronavirus at the district hospital.

Figures from the NHS also show a total of 433,045 vaccinations have been carried out in North East and Yorkshire up to January 10.

In that time, 370,694 people have received the first dose of the vaccine in the region.

Public Health England’s daily figure for the number of new coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district was delayed today, and was still not available at the time of publication.

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Harrogate care boss ‘frustrated’ at vaccine rollout

The chief executive of a care charity in the Harrogate district has spoken of her frustration over the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine.

Care home residents and staff are classed as high risk groups and are among the first to be vaccinated as part of the national programme.

The government has set a target of February 15 to offer the vaccine to all vulnerable groups.

But Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, which provides accommodation for older people, has said so far no residents or staff at its premises have been vaccinated.

Harrogate Neighbours operates Heath Lodge on Pannal Ash Road and the Cuttings on Station View. 

Ms Cawthray told the Stray Ferret she understood GPs were under pressure but the lack of communication was frustrating.

She said:

“Personally, I think the whole vaccine thing is a bit of a nightmare. None of us have had it yet. We’ve got a handful of people at the Cuttings who have got appointments at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

“The vaccine only arrived in Yorkshire on Thursday so I’ve got to give them a chance. I’ve been told they’re giving it to the larger care homes first. When they had the first vaccine, they did that because of the way it came in quantities and had to be used quickly or it was thrown away.

“The GPs are under so much pressure anyway. People are still ill with other bugs. They’ve just finished doing flu vaccines and now they’ve got this to do. Part of me feels sorry for them because it’s such a big undertaking for them.

“The communication is really bad still. Everything comes out late. We’re just finding it frustrating. We were asked way before Christmas for lists and forms ready to receive the vaccine. Now here we are in mid-January and we’ve not even had a phone call.”

According to North Yorkshire County Council figures today, 79 out of 235 North Yorkshire care settings, which includes care homes and extra care facilities, has one or more covid cases among residents of staff.

Health chiefs have urged care homes to be vigilant over visits from family and friends, even with the vaccine rollout.

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Richard Webb, director of health and adult care at the authority, said:

“Though it’s hard with a new lockdown, the vaccines have arrived and in the coming weeks and months more and more people in our settings will have much greater protection against the virus.

“But for now, we have to assume that the new, more transmissible variant of covid is in our county so, although everybody is tired, we must redouble our efforts to stay safe and to protect our care home residents and staff. Above all we must all stay vigilant with facemasks, hand washing and social distancing.”

Mr Webb added he has also asked care homes to be patient on the rollout of the vaccine.

“My main message to providers today is please be patient. The vaccination will be made available to people using your services and to your staff and this will happen in the coming weeks as more doses of the different vaccines become available. It is better that the vaccination programme is implemented in a safe way, than rushed.

“Local NHS colleagues are working around the clock and, as soon as the national distribution system delivers new vaccine batches to North Yorkshire, they will be contacting people to vaccinate them. In most cases, GPs and their teams will be contacting you. However, in some cases, your local hospital may also offer vaccinations to staff and to people using services.”

 

Harrogate district covid cases increase again as 145 reported

A further 145 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district today, according to Public Health England figures.

The number takes the total cases since the start of the pandemic to 5,694.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day rate of infection currently stands at 411 people per 100,000.

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The rate for North Yorkshire is 380 and the national figure is 582.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

Earlier today, North Yorkshire Police said officers would get tougher on covid rule breakers.

Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for the police response in the county to covid, said officers had dealt with cases of people coming from outside the county to beauty spots and others holding birthday parties.

 

North Yorkshire Police pledge to get tougher on covid rule breakers

North Yorkshire Police has today pledged to get tougher on people breaking lockdown rules and “no longer waste time” with covid rule breakers.

Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for the police response in the county to covid, said officers had dealt with cases of people coming from outside the county to beauty spots and others holding birthday parties.

He said while those flouting lockdown rules were in the minority, police would come down harder on those found breaking restrictions.

Superintendent Walker told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of emergency agencies:

“We will no longer waste time reasoning with people who do not have regard for the safety of others.

“This is not just down to the police, this is a matter of personal responsibility. Everyone should ask themselves ‘do I need to make this journey’. If the answer is no, then stay at home.”

Since the start of the new national lockdown, police have issued a total of 107 fixed penalty notices – more than double that in the first week of the lockdown in March when 46 were handed out.

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Of the amount handed out so far, 57 were to people outside North Yorkshire and 50 were to those living in the county.

Police issued 58 fines for people being outside with no reasonable excuse and 49 for indoor gatherings.

A total of 10 have so far been handed out by Harrogate police — all for being outside without good reason.

Yesterday, Mark Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, said he “made no apology” for the almost 45,000 fixed penalty notices for covid breaches with have been handed out nationally.

He said:

“It is very clear that we are now at the most dangerous stage of the pandemic.

“There is a real and present risk that our health service could be overwhelmed and people – our friends and family – could die needlessly from this virus.

“So, we must all play a part in stopping that from happening.”

Coronavirus surge forces Harrogate hospital to postpone surgeries

Harrogate District Hospital has announced it is to postpone some non-emergency surgeries to free up space and staff to deal with coronavirus patients.

There are currently 46 coronavirus inpatients in the hospital — more than double the figure of 19 just a week ago.

The hospital has said previously it has the capacity to care for up to 100 coronavirus patients. But this is only possible if the hospital frees non-covid wards.

It is not clear yet how many appointments will be affected by the news.

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Tim Gold, the chief operating officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“Clearly, this past week has seen a very significant increase of people needing inpatient care.

“This is placing a significant strain on services at the trust.

“In response to rising numbers we are increasing the number of beds available for patients with covid on wards and in critical care.

“We will be continuing to provide urgent and cancer care during this time.”

Dr Jacqueline Andrews, the executive medical director at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“The trust and the wider NHS remains open to all who need us. My colleagues here at the trust are working extremely hard to ensure your safety is paramount.

“The vaccine means there is light at the end of the tunnel, but we have still have some way to go.

“We know these next week few weeks will be very tough, it impacts on all of us here as people.”

70 further covid cases as hospital postpones surgeries

A further 70 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate district today, as hospital bosses postpone some non-emergency surgeries to deal with the increase in covid patients.

It takes the total amount of cases since the start of the pandemic to 5,549.

The district’s seven-day case rate stands at 426 people per 100,000. The county average is 401 and the national rate is 609.

All three figures are down on yesterday.

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One further death from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus has been confirmed today at Harrogate District Hospital.

It takes the total number of deaths since March to 116.

According to NHS England data, the death was reported on January 10.

Earlier today, the hospital announced it is to postpone some elective surgeries to deal with the rising number of coronavirus patients.

The number of coronavirus patients in the hospital has more than doubled from 19 to 46 in the past week.