Another 88 covid cases in Harrogate district as hospitalisations rise

A further 88 covid cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures – and the number of hospital patients has increased.

The district’s seven-day covid rate now stands at 322 cases per 100,000 people, slightly above the North Yorkshire average of 308 and the England rate of 301.

It also emerged today that the number of covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital has risen despite the overall number of people needing treatment across the county falling.

As of yesterday, there were 126 covid-positive patients in North Yorkshire’s hospitals, which is down five on this time last week.

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There are 20 patients in intensive care, an increase of one in the last seven days.

In an update to North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum today, Amanda Bloor, the accountable officer for the North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said that the number of patients at Harrogate District Hospital was up one to 11.

She said: 

“While there has been an overall reduction across our hospitals there has been a slight increase of covid-positive patients in Harrogate and a larger increase in Scarborough.

“This is an important reminder that some people are still becoming unwell and needing hospital treatment. Due to infection control requirements when treating covid patients it does mean that hospitals are able to do less other activity while the numbers remain significant.

“As schools and colleges go back in September this may also have an impact on infection rates so it is important that we all continue to take sensible precautions to protect ourselves and those around us.”

Elsewhere, 124,187 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 114,258 have had a second dose.

First covid death in four months at Harrogate hospital

Harrogate District Hospital has recorded its first death from a patient who tested positive for covid in four months.

According to NHS England figures, the death was reported on August 16.

The last time a covid death was reported at the hospital was on April 11.

It comes as health managers reported a “sharp increase” in covid patients in North Yorkshire hospitals, with Harrogate treating nine – an increase from seven last week.

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The death toll at Harrogate hospital since March 2020 now stands at 180.

Meanwhile, 77 covid infections have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

The district’s weekly rate has increased slightly to 299 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire rate stands at 274 and the England average is 310.

Elsewhere, 123,688 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 109,423 have had a second dose.

‘Sharp rise’ in covid patients in North Yorkshire hospitals

There has been a “sharp rise” in the number of covid patients in hospitals across North Yorkshire.

The number of people admitted to the county’s hospitals in the last seven days has jumped to 121, up from 109 this time last week.

The latest figure includes nine patients in Harrogate District Hospital – an increase from seven last week.

Meanwhile, eight patients are in Scarborough, 27 in York and 77 in South Tees.

Twenty-three of the patients are being treated in Intensive Care Units.

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Hospitalisations had been falling after the number reached 131 two weeks ago.

Amanda Bloor, the accountable officer for the North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum that there had been a number of people admitted over the weekend.

She said: 

“Over the course of last week we did see quite a sharp decrease in the number of patients with covid in hospital, but over the weekend we had quite a sharp rise and that does seem to stabilise but it is in line with what we are seeing more broadly across the country.

“So we are still seeing quite significant numbers of patients requiring hospital treatment when they become poorly with covid.”

Mrs Bloor also urged younger people who had not taken up the offer of a vaccine to come forward to get one.

She added: 

“We are seeing younger people getting covid who do need to be admitted to hospital for treatment and they are sometimes becoming quite poorly.

“So please do not delay getting the vaccine. It is the single most important thing that you can do to protect yourself.”

Covid rate ‘plateauing’ in Harrogate district

The Harrogate district’s coronavirus infection rate is still “plateauing” after falling sharply last month, latest figures show.

The district’s weekly rate now stands at 266 cases per 100,000 people – a level it has remained stable at over the past two weeks.

It marks a significant decrease from when the rate peaked at 533 in mid July but officials have warned the latest figure is still too high and that the wider health and social care sector is facing “exceptional” levels of demand.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said in a message to residents:

“The covid infection rate across the county seems to have plateaued. The rate is 269 per 100,000 people, against an England average of 299.

“This is still high and pressures continue on health and social care services, so our message remains ‘respect and protect’.

“We currently have 48 care homes with cases of covid, and these remain extremely challenging times for health and social care. The level of demand for hospitals, primary care, community health services and social care is exceptional.”

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Meanwhile, the number of covid patients at Harrogate hospital remains stable – with seven patients in beds as of last Wednesday.

The hospital also last week passed four months without reporting a coronavirus-related death.

The latest figures for vaccinations show a total of 123,660 people in the Harrogate district have now received their first vaccine dose and 109,028 people their second.

Number of North Yorkshire covid patients falls, with eight in Harrogate

The number of covid patients in hospitals in North Yorkshire has fallen, with eight currently being treated in Harrogate.

Across hospitals which serve the county there are 131 patients now receiving treatment for coronavirus, a drop of five but the number in intensive care is up by six to 22.

There are eight covid patients in Harrogate District Hospital – a fall from nine last week.

Meanwhile, 27 are being treated in York and 89 in South Tees.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer of the North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum today that vaccinations remained open to those aged between 18 to 29 and urged people to come forward.

She said: 

“Data suggest that around 70 per cent of people in this age range across North Yorkshire and York have had one dose and 24 per cent have had their second dose.

“Vaccinations are available for all adults through pre-booked and walk-in appointments, and we are encouraging everyone to take up the offer.

“The vaccination remains a personal choice and while we can make accessing the vaccination as easy as possible, we may find that some people opt not to take up the offer.”

Harrogate’s coronavirus infection rate per 100,000 people now stands at 247 – a drop from a high of 534 last month.

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Meanwhile, Louise Wallace, the county’s director of public health, said that despite the drop the figures were still high.

She added: 

“The decline in cases is always good news and it is encouraging, but it is probably too soon to say if this is a downward and sustained trend.

“So we keep a real close eye on the case rates to see what is happening.

“Just remember that when [cases rates are above] 200 it is still relatively high, which is why I just want to urge everybody to take care and take things slowly.

“We do need to see whether this is absolutely a continued and sustained trend before we change any of our behaviours.”

Daily Harrogate district covid infections lowest since June

Just 45 covid infections have been recorded in the Harrogate district — the lowest 24-hour figure since June 26.

Today’s data, from Public Health England, reduces the district’s seven-day average rate of infection to 260 per 100,000 people.

The rate peaked at 534 on July 18 and has more than halved in the fortnight since.

The current rates for England and North Yorkshire are 291 and 260 respectively.

Harrogate West and Pannal has had the most infections in the district in the last seven days, with 42, followed by Ripon South and East with 35.

At the other end of the scale Pateley Bridge and Nidd Valley has had just 12 cases.

There has not been a covid-related death at Harrogate District Hospital for almost four months now.

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100 new covid cases reported in Harrogate district today

A total of 100 covid infections have been reported in the Harrogate district today, according to latest Public Health England figures.

However, no covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital in more than three months and hospitalisations remain low at just three.

NHS England figures show that the covid death toll at the hospital since March 2020 remains at 179.

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The district’s seven-day average infection rate now stands at 532 cases per 100,000 people, which is the same average as England. The North Yorkshire average is 585.

Ripon south and east remains the covid hotspot, with 83 infections recorded in the last seven days. Central Harrogate, with 53, is the next highest.

 

Harrogate hospital covid patients increase as infections soar

The number of covid patients in Harrogate District Hospital has increased, as case numbers reach their highest levels since January.

A covid press briefing today heard there are now 80 covid patients in hospitals in North Yorkshire, up from 47 seven days ago.

In Harrogate, the number of patients being treated stands at five, compared with two last week.

North Yorkshire’s seven-day infection rate is now 355 per 100,000 people and there have been more than 2,000 new infections since this time last week. The figure for the Harrogate district is even higher at 410.

Amanda Bloor, NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s accountable officer, told a meeting of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum today that hospital numbers had not reached the levels of previous waves.

She said: 

“The last time that the infection rate across North Yorkshire and York was at 300 per 100,000 population, and it is slightly higher than that now, was back in late January and at that point there were over 400 patients in hospital beds across North Yorkshire.

“So whilst we can see that the numbers are increasing they are not at the height of the numbers that they were back in January when the vaccine program was at its very early stage.”

Ms Bloor said those being admitted to hospital in North Yorkshire tended to be younger than in previous waves and were mainly among those who had not yet taken up the offer of a vaccine.

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She said the vaccine was making a difference to the numbers of people being admitted to hospital but warned that people should continue to be careful when restrictions are lifted on Monday.

Mrs Bloor said: 

“Whilst the rules are changing as we move towards next Monday we all still have the power to ensure that the behaviours that we exhibit help prevent the spread of infections, to help stop other people becoming infected and help protect yourself and your families and I would encourage everyone to make responsible choices as we emerge from the final stage of lockdown next week.”

At the same meeting Louise Wallace, North Yorkshire’s director of public health, said that the rise in the number of covid cases tended to be concentrated in those under the age of 35 but that they were now starting to see increases in older people also.

She encouraged people to continue to keep taking precautions even after restrictions are lifted.

Ms Wallace said: 

“We are going to take the next step to stage four on the roadmap and it is about living with covid and I urge people to think of the combination of things that we can all do to protect ourselves, our friends, our families and communities.

“Whilst it is now the summer and we are enjoying meeting up and doing things that we could not do a few months ago there are things that we should all do to respect and protect each other.

“This includes meeting in well ventilated areas, where possible outdoors or with windows open if we are indoors.

“Wear face coverings when you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet or in an enclosed or crowded space.”

No covid deaths at Harrogate hospital for three months

No covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital for three months.

According to NHS England figures, the last death from a patient who tested positive for covid was on April 11.

It means the death toll at the hospital since last March remains at 179.

Meanwhile, a further 98 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

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It takes the total number of cases in the district since last March to 9,516.

The district’s seven-day covid rate of infection has increased to 406 people per 100,000 — the highest in North Yorkshire.

The North Yorkshire average is 343 and the England rate is 323.

A total of 218,303 vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 120,348 people receiving a first dose and 97,955 second doses.

Hospital bosses ‘disappointed’ after highly critical e-mail circulated

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has said it is “disappointed” after an anonymous e-mail was circulated criticising chief executive Steve Russell’s leadership.

A highly critical e-mail has been circulated to non-executive directors at the trust, the chair of HDFT, Angela Schofield, the Care Quality Commission and to the media.

The e-mail, which is anonymous, makes unsubstantiated allegations against Mr Russell and accuses him of being at the centre of a culture of fear at the hospital.

The sender of the e-mail said it had been circulated as there was “no other way to safely surface” the concerns and that it was sent anonymously because of an alleged “fear of reprisal”.

It goes on to say that staff and senior leaders at the hospital are scared to speak up and the reason for the e-mail was a result of “two years of sustained and escalating behaviour”.

It says:

“We are scared. They are scared. We are worried. They are worried. We/they cannot speak up openly even with our internal routes available.”

The Stray Ferret tried to reach out to the anonymous sender, but received a bounce back e-mail.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Russell and Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, a spokesperson said in response:

“It’s disappointing that someone feels this way and has written what they have. We are proud that colleagues across the Trust provide high quality patient care and embody our Trust values.

“There are ways to raise concerns, including anonymously, both within the Trust and with external regulatory bodies, and we provide information and support for colleagues to do that wherever appropriate.”

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The trust appointed consultancy firm Deloitte to carry out a review into the trust’s culture and leadership in August 2019.

It included Harrogate Integrated Facilities (HIF), a subsidiary which runs the hospital’s estates.

The results of the review was published in a report last year.

The review found that staff view both the board of directors and executive, which includes Mr Russell, positively, with management being “frequently described as an open and inclusive team”.

However, the report found concerns over the hospital’s estates department.

Following interviews with 52 members of staff and 63 surveys, the report found “widespread concerns” over bullying, leadership and poor recruitment practice at HIF.

Behaviour cited in a report included defacing tools or belongings with offensive graffiti, collectively ignoring or ostracising people and damaging belongings of individuals, including gluing of equipment or lockers.

After the review, the hospital board agreed to launch an investigation which will be carried out by an external body into reported bullying and poor recruitment practice in the department.