Two more people have died at Harrogate District Hospital after contracting coronavirus, bringing the total to eight.

The two patients both died on Friday, April 3. No further details have been released, but NHS England said they were among the 637 deaths confirmed today around the UK – including a five-year-old child.

The number of confirmed cases in North Yorkshire has risen to 218 in figures released today, with more than 33,000 across the country. The total number of fatalities in the UK now stands at 3,939.

Meanwhile, work has continued today at Harrogate Convention Centre, which is being turned into a 500-bed Nightingale hospital.

Activity continues at Harrogate Convention Centre as it is transformed into a Nightingale hospital

Construction work continues today around the Royal Hall at Harrogate Convention Centre

An amubulance outside Harrogate Convention Centre today

Construction work continued today at Harrogate Convention Centre

A draft petition asking for widespread testing of the public for coronavirus has been rejected by the government, which claims decisions over medical testing are not in its remit. 

A proposal by the leader of the Liberal Democrats in Harrogate, Coun Pat Marsh, was submitted to the government’s petitions site on 17th March calling for more testing of the population. Six days later, it was rejected on the grounds that medical testing was not in the government’s remit. The response said: 

“We can’t accept your petition because the UK Government and Parliament aren’t responsible for the issue you raise. The conduct of tests is a clinical decision for the NHS, not the UK Government or Parliament.”

Coun Pat Marsh said: “I was absolutely outraged when I received the response. I understand who has to physically do the tests, but the government must have some responsibility for purchasing tests and having them distributed to the right places.”

She believes testing of frontline workers – including NHS staff, carers, supermarket employees and other key workers – at an earlier stage could have made a significant difference to the spread of the virus, as well as preventing any needless 14-day isolation periods which kept vital staff away from work. 

Security guards, the Army and others have been seen at Harrogate Convention Centre this week as it is converted into a ‘Nightingale’ hospital

Coun Marsh has accused the government of dereliction of duty in its failure to roll out widespread testing at an early stage, and its claim that it has no responsibility for deciding who is tested. She has also criticised the way the news about the ‘Nightingale’ hospital came out, with no official confirmation despite intense activity at Harrogate Convention Centre which, she said, could have caused alarm.

“I don’t feel comfortable with the government’s approach,” she said. “Of course, you might think I’d say that, but it doesn’t matter what colour the government is. I want us to be safe and for them to do everything within their power to make sure we’re kept safe and well.”

The Stray Ferret has contacted Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, about the government’s position on testing but has not yet received a response.

Across the country, recently retired doctors, nurses and other NHS staff are being invited to return to work. 

The government has vowed to relax restrictions for such workers to enable them to help out as medical services face growing demand, and as current staff fall ill themselves.

While they won’t be invited as part of the current scheme, there are also NHS staff who have been on career breaks for other reasons now preparing to offer their services again. 

GP Joanne Gregson, who has been off work since having daughter Edie in October 2018, has contacted the Local Medical Committee to find out where she is most needed. For her, work will be very different when she returns than it was when she left.

“We’re all subject to the self-isolation rules too,” she said. “If Edie gets a temperature, I’m out of action for a couple of weeks. 

“A lot of practices are doing video and telephone consultations now, trying to limit face-to-face contact. That should help to keep as many of us working as possible.” 

Support after career break

Dr Gregson had already been considering a soft return to work through the GP retainer scheme, which offers mentoring to doctors coming back to practice after a break. However, with practices now in need of help to cope with high demand, she may return to work in one of the most difficult periods in the history of the NHS. 

“It is anxiety-provoking because I was planning to go back in a very controlled manner,” she said. “As doctors, we’re very conscientious. We don’t want to make mistakes, we’re human and we want to do our best. 

“I wanted to do some courses and get back up to speed. Going back as a retainer meant after each appointment I could speak to a mentor and go through things. Now, I know everyone is going to be working at their capacity and as much as people will try to help, they may not be able to find that extra time.” 

With colleagues and friends working in front-line NHS care, Dr Gregson said she is hearing stories about their experiences:

“There’s a bit of disgruntlement about social distancing. We aren’t really seeing people doing it. I can understand that, because it seems unreal still, but we’re seeing what’s happening in Italy and it is worrying. The message coming from my colleagues is, ‘do your bit. This is coming and we all have to act responsibly’.”