A further 552 people in England, who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 19,301.  87 of the latest deaths were in the Yorkshire and North East regions.

Harrogate hospital has so far reported that 44 of its patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died. This latest death was reported on Sunday 26th April.

The reported deaths today were aged between 31 and 99 years old. 38 had no known underlying health condition.

The NHS England figures released today do not account for those who have died of suspected coronavirus but were not tested, such as those in care homes.

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths today, as hospitals in the UK record the lowest number for four weeks.

The number of deaths reported on Sundays and Mondays tends to be lower due to delays in reporting over the weekends, but today’s number is the lowest since March 30 when 180 died.

Harrogate hospital has so far reported that 43 of its patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died.

Each Thursday, the hospital releases figures showing the total number of patients who have been treated and discharged – that figure last Thursday was 58.

A further 329 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 18,749.

Patients were aged between 29 and 100 years old. Twenty-two of the 329 patients, who were aged between 29 and 89 years old, had no known underlying health conditions.

Scotland reported 13 deaths, Wales reported eight and Northern Ireland has not yet released its figures.

The statistics, released each day, do not account for those who have died of suspected coronavirus but were not tested, such as those in care homes.

Four more patients have died after being treated for coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital, bringing the total to 42.

Released today, the latest report shows two patients died yesterday (Friday) while another died on Thursday. A fourth death was confirmed to have taken place on April 6th.

The statistics, released by NHS England, show that there have been 711 deaths confirmed across England in the last 24 hours, in patients were aged between 34 and 100. Of those, 87 had no known underlying health conditions.

The total number of covid-19 deaths across NHS England now stands at more than 18,000. These do not include patients who died elsewhere, such as in care homes.

On Thursday, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust confirmed it had treated and discharged 58 patients since the beginning of the crisis.

The Briary Unit at Harrogate District Hospital has this week closed its doors for the final time as inpatient mental health services transfer to York. 

The hospital wing, which offered specialist inpatient care for people suffering with mental health problems, is now sitting empty, as services are provided in the newly-built Foss Park Hospital on the north side of the city. 

A spokesman for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, which is not responsible for mental health provision, said it was now considering how best to use the space.

Naomi Lonergan, director of operations for North Yorkshire and York at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Foundation Trust which runs mental health services for the Harrogate district, said: 

“Over the last few weeks our services have been transferring from the Briary Wing at Harrogate District Hospital as planned in phased approach. All services will have vacated by the end of this week and we have been working with services users, carers and partners to keep them updated on these changes.” 

The Briary Wing is now unoccupied

Alongside TEWV, the decision to close the Briary Unit last year was made by Harrogate and Rural District Clinical Commissioning Group (HaRD CCG), which has since been merged with two others to form North Yorkshire CCG. 

A spokesman for the new CCG said:

“Relocating the inpatient beds for Harrogate patients to York has released £500k which we are investing to expand and improve community mental health services which includes crisis. This is in line with one of our key principles which is to keep and treat people at home. The mental health transformation project is expected to reduce admissions, and when people do need to be admitted to reduce their length of stay.  

“We are conscious of the impact on families and carers and this was picked up as part of the engagement exercise. TEWV and the CCG are looking at volunteer drivers to help but also recognise that this is a difficult time.” 

Growing demand

With the full impact of the coronavirus crisis on mental health still to become clear, concerns have been raised that the new arrangements will not meet growing demand over the coming months. 

Cllr Geoff Webber, pictured left, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on North Yorkshire County Council, last year criticised the decision to close the Briary Unit, saying the district’s residents had “been screwed” by TEWV and HaRD CCG, which made the decision. 

This week he said: “My concern remains that when there is pressure on the facility in York – as I’m sure there will be with the fall out from the pandemic – then Harrogate patients will be come second in the queue and possibly referred to Middlesborough or even further away. Community-based services will be unable to cope in the current situation.” 

The CCG spokesman said their modelling suggested the 72 beds in York would be sufficient, especially with an increase in community-based services, but there was always the possibility that patients would have to be treated further afield. Meanwhile, services have been adapted during the coronavirus crisis.

Ms Lonergan said: 

“We continue to deliver our services. We have introduced phone and video contacts for community appointments, where it is appropriate, and this has worked well. During this time we are also trying to maintain a level of contact with all patients, supplemented by more frequent contact by volunteers or other staff where appropriate. In the community, where it is identified that people do require face-to-face support, Trust staff can still visit people at home and they are taking the necessary precautions when doing this.”  

She added that the crisis service, offering 24-hour support, was continuing to operate and directed people to the website for more information.

Read more: From building a new hospital to moving all services to York – how did we get here?

Are you or a family member affected by this story and want to share your concerns? Please get in touch  – contact@thestrayferret.co.uk  

Harrogate District Hospital has reported that two more of its patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died.

Both patients died on Thursday and it brings the hospital’s total up to 38. Their families have been informed.

It comes as a further 761 people with coronavirus died across the UK.

England recorded 587 deaths, Wales reported 110 deaths, and 64 patients died in Scotland. Northern Ireland has not yet released its figures.

The figures released only include those who have been tested and treated in hospital. Deaths elsewhere, such as in care homes, are not included.

Of the 587 patients who died in England’s hospitals, the patients were aged between 40 and 102 years old.

34 of the 587 patients, who were aged between 50 and 102 years old, had no known underlying health conditions.

A total of 58 patients have now been discharged home after being treated for coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital.

A total of 58 patients have now been discharged home after being treated for coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital.

The figure is up by seven from 51 last Thursday, with one patient who was treated on a ventilator having gone home last week.

pic.twitter.com/JhhohAKP8L

— Harrogate NHS FT (@HarrogateNHSFT) April 23, 2020

Meanwhile, the latest figures from NHS England confirm there have been no further deaths reported by Harrogate and District NHS Trust in the last 24 hours, leaving the total number at 36. Last Thursday, the number of deaths stood at 26.

Across England, 514 deaths were confirmed today, in patients aged between 31 and 100. Of those, 16 patients had no known underlying health conditions.

The figures released only include those who have been tested and treated in hospital. Deaths elsewhere, such as in care homes, are not included.

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

The latest two deaths from Monday and Tuesday takes the hospital’s coronavirus deaths total up to 36 so far.

103 coronavirus patients were today confirmed to have died in the North East and Yorkshire region.

Hospitals in England reported that a further 665 patients have died, taking the country’s total up 16,272.

Patients were aged between 26 and 102 years old. 26 of the 665 patients, who were aged between 48 and 95 years old had no known underlying health conditions.

Their families have been informed.

Scotland reported 77 deaths, Wales recorded 15 but Northern Ireland has not yet released its numbers.

These figures do not account for deaths outside the hospital of people who were not tested but died of suspected coronavirus.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust will release figures for the number of people who have been treated and discharged on a weekly basis. As of last Thursday, 51 people who had been admitted to the hospital have gone home.

Former Ripon Grammar School student Ella Borchard (pictured above) has volunteered to join the NHS front line at Harrogate Hospital in its battle so save the lives of people stricken by coronavirus.

The 21-year-old, who is a nursing student at Sheffield Hallam University, is well-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients as she has received extensive training in the oxygen therapy, mental wellbeing and use of PPE.

Academics at the university have provided online lectures and training sessions about end of life care and COVID-19 policies and procedures, including simulations with mannequins.

Ella, who will be working under supervision from the nursing staff on the Wensleydale Ward at Harrogate Hospital, took up her place at Sheffield Hallam after studying biology, chemistry and Spanish at Ripon Grammar.

Looking forward to using her caring skills in a real-life situation, she said:

“Every day will bring so many issues to overcome, but it will give me lots of experience of nursing in an unusual situation, while having a defined support network. I do feel very excited to be a part of history.”

At university, the nursing students prepared for situations they might find themselves in and discussed how to look after themselves.

Ella pointed out:

“The training gives us some of the skills and information we need to tackle something like this, but I have spent nearly three years preparing for my future career as a nurse and working during the pandemic is only part of what I have trained to do. Further down the line I would like to take my master’s degree in advances nursing so that I can manage patients’ complete clinical care, from diagnosis to care planning and discharge.”

An enthusiastic supporter of Ripon Youth Theatre Ella, like her mother Jo, is a member of Ripon Amateur Operatic Society, taking part in many performances.

Ella in costume for a Ripon Amateur Operatic Society performance

Mrs Borchard, a primary school teacher and herself a former student of Ripon Grammar School, told the Stray Ferret:

“I am so proud of Ella, she is wonderful, caring daughter, with lots of energy, drive, focus and attention to detail.

“Whatever she does, she strives to do it to the best of her ability – whether dancing in an operatic society show, or putting her professional skills into practice at the height of this world pandemic  crisis.”

Harrogate District Hospital has reported that two more of its patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died.

The hospital has now reported 34 deaths in total since the start of the pandemic, with the two latest deaths from Sunday and Monday

It comes as a further 778 people have died in England’s hospitals, which is nearly double the number of deaths from yesterday and brings the country’s total up to 15,607.

Patients were aged between 22 and 103 years old.  24 of the 778 patients, who were aged between 49 and 91 years old, had no known underlying health conditions.

Scotland reported 70 deaths, Wales recorded 25 but Northern Ireland has not yet released its numbers.

Hospitals in the North East and Yorkshire reported 100 deaths today.

These figures do not account for deaths outside the hospital of people who were not tested but died of suspected coronavirus.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust will release figures for the number of people who have been treated and discharged on a weekly basis. As of last Thursday, 51 people who had been admitted to the hospital have gone home.

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any new coronavirus-related deaths and the nationwide figure is the lowest it has been for a fortnight.

The hospital has so far reported 32 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Whereas, there have been 1,870 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the North East and Yorkshire region.

It comes as Harrogate hospital announced that its first patient had been discharged after treatment for coronavirus on a ventilator.

Patient Karl then shared a video from home and used the opportunity to thank the staff at the hospital. He said that they saved his life and urged them to stay safe.

https://www.facebook.com/HarrogateDistrictNHS/videos/231823624719693/?__xts__[0]=68.ARBZG6TV3jYQ5jXumIB3zG14zYuzuSYVrnQ3XdK15Ci_YuUmTs3Sovi7BD5GDwROZLY1q176-GBESyWGJT_gh7gfBfZ4X2avSulD7xQKBn9dLLjU3NHzSCMJDCc-b-fFPShQ9Shl4d1-6G5bcavKeCMtT-aXK3T0as26I-ZQCUPGNRkmlNvgrgF69Z_B6fulLPo7L00Io9mTUCDIx9ndfOinG28IhnB2FZMRmUmaCfCyrkUemyYFtwjmZnpVx0RB7s9rCb–qKJ67kiDkph58lbANwwONzwDk835yGsgcMjDRc6rSCvExS_EQx50tGKVm1gP-I1mLUnGq1vX6nbMHmzNz8nYkQ5TVhocGTpE&__tn__=-R

Another 450 people have died in hospitals in the UK after contracting coronavirus. English hospitals made up 429 of those deaths but it is the lowest nationwide figure for two weeks.

Scotland reported 12 deaths and Wales reported nine deaths but Northern Ireland has not yet reported its deaths for today.

The UK has reported 16,552 deaths so far. These figures do not account for deaths outside the hospital of people who were not tested but died of suspected coronavirus.