Face masks return to doctors’ surgery as flu season rages onInvestigation: Where to get a flu vaccine in the Harrogate districtRising flu cases putting pressure on Harrogate hospital as trust urges vaccinationsHarrogate hospital issues plea amid long delaysParents in Harrogate district urged to get their children vaccinated against flu

Hospital officials in Harrogate said today they are concerned by a lack of take up for flu vaccines in children aged five to 11.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust runs the School Age Immunisation Service, which covers vaccinations for children across North Yorkshire and the North East.

However, officials are now urging parents to get their child vaccinated against the flu this winter to help prevent its spread.

Carly Dodsworth, from the School Age Immunisation Service at the trust, said: 

“Whilst flu often has mild symptoms it can also be extremely serious.

“We would encourage parents to have their children vaccinated at the earliest opportunity to protect them and anyone they meet who could be vulnerable to the flu.

“Parents who missed the chance to have their child vaccinated in school and who are still keen for them to have the vaccine, can take advantage of the additional clinics that we have organised over the next few weeks.”

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All primary school children are eligible for the free flu vaccination, which is usually a nasal spray that is given in school.

The School Age Immunisation Service is yet to visit all primary schools in the region and parents of children whose primary school has yet to be visited are being asked to look out for an email from their school with details of when flu vaccinations will be taking place.

Children who have missed their opportunity to have their vaccination at their school will be able to take advantage of additional drop-in clinics and appointment only clinics which are being held across the region in December.

You can find out more about drop-in and appointment clinics here.

Harrogate hospital has ‘robust plan’ to tackle winter demand, say officials

Harrogate hospital bosses have given assurances that a ‘robust plan’ is in place for winter as it faces increased demand.

The hospital says it expects to face further pressures from seasonal flu, covid and staff absences.

It also faces long waiting lists for operations and high demand at accident and emergency.

However, a spokesperson for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said the organisation has put a plan in place to cope with demand.

It comes as NHS chiefs wrote to health bosses across the country this week conceding that some hospitals may struggle to cope this winter.

‘Robust winter plan’

In Harrogate, the hospital is currently dealing with a 90% bed occupancy rate, high demand at A&E and a long waiting list for operations.

A spokesperson for HDFT said despite some of the winter pressures, a plan was in place to help maintain services for patients.

They said:

“We have faced and dealt with significant challenges over the last few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our recovery from it – in particular, reducing our waiting lists and waiting times for treatment.

“We will undoubtedly face further challenges in the months ahead as winter is always a busy time of the year as we deal with a variety of seasonal infections such as flu, in addition to all other regular activity.

“The trust has a robust winter plan in place to ensure we are able to maintain our services so that our patients’ care is not disrupted and all areas are staffed to safe levels and monitored throughout all shifts.

“During the winter period, staff absences at the trust can create pressure for our teams; for instance, fewer nursing and medical staff means that whilst we are still able to treat our patients for their illness or condition and ensure their safety, we are sometimes not able to provide the level of holistic support that we would like.

“Currently, bed occupancy at our hospitals is around 90%. Due to the increased number of planned operations that are being performed we have more patients occupying beds following their surgery.

“However, bed occupancy is also impacted by patients who no longer require hospital care, but are unable to be discharged as they do not have a suitable location where they can continue their recovery, such as a residential care home, or appropriate home care to support them in their own homes.”

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The trust has already sought to introduce a home care service to free up beds and has trialled an emergency department streaming service for less serious injuries and illnesses at A&E.

The hospital also continues to urge people to call 111 for non-urgent illnesses.

It comes as NHS chiefs, regulators and Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, wrote to hospital bosses this week reassuring them that staff would not face disciplinary action if care standards fell due to “significantly increased national pressure”.

The letter said:

“In such challenging times, when you may need to depart from established procedures to care for people, we understand some could be fearful that they will be referred to your regulator. 

“Please be assured that your professional code and principles of practice are there to guide and support your judgments and decision-making in all circumstances. 

“This includes taking into account local realities and the need at times to adapt practice at times of significantly increased national pressure.”

Less than a month to get jabbed at Harrogate’s showground

Autumn covid booster vaccination clinics are only available at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground for less than a month.

Tim Yarrow, operations manager at Yorkshire Health Network, which is overseeing the vaccination programme, today urged anyone eligible to book now.

Those showground site, which is currently seeing 1,400 patients a day, is due to close on November 23 and there are currently no plans to re-open it.

It means people will have to seek appointments at local pharmacies when the showground site closes.

People aged 50 and over, pregnant women, carers, frontline health and care workers, care home residents and people of all ages who are vulnerable are eligible for a covid booster jab now.

Those who are able to book their vaccinations can do so via the NHS website.

The showground is not accepting walk-in appointments. Access to the site is available by car from the road alongside Sainsbury’s.

The NHS is ramping up its winter vaccination campaign.

Health bosses in Harrogate previously said that they expect to see more covid patients in hospitals in the coming weeks.

Dr Bruce Willoughby, Harrogate GP and part of the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, said:

“Health and care services in North Yorkshire and York, like everywhere, are already extremely busy. We do expect to see more cases of covid in the coming weeks as people mix freely again and spend more time indoors as the weather gets colder. The risk of catching covid is highest indoors and in crowded places.

“More people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the pandemic. The best time to have the flu vaccine is in the autumn or early winter before it starts spreading.”

Health officials are also urging people to book a flu vaccine this winter. People can book their jab via their GP surgery.

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Harrogate hospital bed occupancy high as winter pressures bite

Hospital bosses in Harrogate have warned that the number of patients requiring treatment for winter infections remain high.

Dr Matt Shepherd, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and consultant in emergency medicine at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said bed occupancy at the hospital remains high at 90%.

The hospital is currently dealing with patients suffering from winter infections, such as flu and coronavirus. Health officials in Harrogate recently urged people to dial 101 if their illness or injury was not serious.

According to the NHS England figures, the hospital is also treating 25 covid patients.

This comes as the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 417 per 100,000 people, with a total of 880 covid cases in the last seven days.

Dr Shepherd said historically, pressures tended to ease during the spring. But this was now uncertain due to coronavirus and the lack of national restrictions.

He said:

“Historically, as we approach spring, the pressures have tended to reduce, however, as we are still dealing with the covid-19 pandemic this is not certain.

“Currently bed occupancy at our hospitals remain high at around 90 percent, a similar figure to February.”

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Dr Shepherd added that the pandemic was also having an effect on waiting lists. He said:

“The covid-19 pandemic certainly impacted on waiting lists for operations and one of our major priorities has been to cut the backlog.  

“The increased number of planned operations that are being performed has meant we have more patients occupying beds following their surgery.”

Dr Shepherd said the hospital also had 40 patients who no longer required care, but cannot be discharged because they do not have a suitable place to return to in order to recover.

Despite the continued pressures from covid, the hospital has since relaxed its visiting restrictions.

However, those visiting the hospital will still be required to wear a mask, sanitise their hands and abide by social distancing.

Dr Shepherd said:

“We are pleased to have recently been able to relax visiting restrictions, but anyone entering our hospitals will still need to wear a mask, ensure they sanitise their hands and maintain social distancing.  

“Following these protocols will help us to protect our patients, but also our staff. Reducing the risk of our staff catching covid-19 will help us to maintain appropriate staffing levels so our patients’ care is not disrupted.”

Harrogate people urged to be patient when booking GPs amid delays

The NHS is urging people in the Harrogate district to be patient when booking GP appointments amid concerns some patients’ anger is boiling over at delays.

Health leaders issued the plea today, saying a combination of exceptional demand and staff being affected by normal winter sickness and covid was causing strain.

NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Vale of York CCG, which buy health services for the county, acknowledging ‘the wait to speak to a member of a surgery’s reception team in some areas may be a little longer than normal’ and asking people to show ‘patience and kindness’ in the run-up to Christmas.

Dr Charles Parker, NHS North Yorkshire CCG clinical chair, said:

“We recognise how frustrating it can be to be in a call queue but surgery staff are doing their very best in challenging circumstances.

“GP practices have been asked to vaccinate the 50-64 year olds against the flu, to give the covid vaccine, to work in constrained ways to keep patients and staff safe and to do this with higher numbers of staff off work, isolating or ill.

“This is a lot to cope with at the same time. They absolutely do not deserve to be shouted at and abused.”

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Dr Parker added people should not ring GP practices asking about the covid vaccine but instead wait for notification. He added:

“This will help keep the phone lines clear and help practices cope with providing prompt care.”

Local pharmacies can also help with minor ailments, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.

Patients can also get non-emergency medical advice at all hours by using the NHS 111 service online or over the phone.