The number of patients at Harrogate District Hospital with coronavirus has more than halved in a week.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust revealed today the hospital currently has 18 coronavirus patients compared with 42 last week — a reduction of 24.

At its peak, there were 67 people in the hospital with the virus and the number had remained stubbornly high in recent weeks despite the declining covid infection rate locally.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, told a press briefing today the current covid wave had been “long and hard” on hospital staff but that the situation was finally improving.

“The trend is very much in the downward direction and that’s very positive and where we want to see it.”

Read more:

• One more covid death confirmed at Harrogate hospital

• Harrogate district covid rate hits six-month low

Ms Bloor also commented on the Harrogate Nightingale hospital, which NHS England confirmed this week will be decommissioned and returned to Harrogate Borough Council from next month.

She added:

“It’s the right time to stand the Nightingale down but we’re lucky we had it there. 

“Throughout the last year, it’s been a vital insurance policy in our approach to managing covid.

“It also provided a valuable role supporting routine care as well as safe and fast access to CT scanning.”

A Harrogate man who claims he caught coronavirus in hospital has called for greater protections for patients.

Tom Linden, who is 64, was taken to Harrogate District Hospital by ambulance a couple of weeks ago on January 27.

With chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure and diabetes, Mr Linden is in the at-risk group for coronavirus.

He feared going into hospital but when he developed fluid retention complications, a symptom of COPD, he had no choice.

On entering hospital he tested negative for coronavirus so was taken to the Byland Ward with five other COPD patients.

Mr Linden, who in normal times is in and out of hospital quite regularly, told the Stray Ferret:

“We were all tested for coronavirus on a daily basis. The staff came in on one night and told one of the six of us that they had coronavirus. As I was awake they told me as well.

“The same happened again another night. We raised our concerns about coronavirus safety in the ward and asked them to leave the door open and open the window but they dismissed us.

“On the third time they told me I had coronavirus. They moved me into the Nidderdale ward with the other coronavirus patients and I have a private room where I am calling you from now.

“Now I have to keep telling them to close the door behind them when they come into the room. I am absolutely terrified. I don’t think I am going to make it.”

Read more:

• Over 70s in Harrogate district urged to contact NHS for covid vaccine
• ‘Really good progress’ as vaccine reaches 175,000 people

Harrogate District Hospital is under significant pressure at the moment. As of yesterday, it had 61 coronavirus. Down just three from an all time high of 64 patients last week.

A spokesperson for the hospital said:

“We have reviewed the comments made by Mr Linden and we are confident that the care provided has been what would be expected.

“Hospitals are safe places to be to receive care if needed.

“At Harrogate District Hospital, we follow strict infection prevention and control measures to protect both our colleagues and our patients, and these are adhered to at all times.

“Some of the measures include opening the windows where possible once every hour for 10 minutes.

“We have plastic curtains in between all beds (that are not two metres apart) which are wiped clean regularly.

“All colleagues involved in patient care are asked to self-test for covid-19 twice a week and report in the results.

“This helps to keep people safe and prevent asymptomatic spread of covid-19.

“Should anyone’s subsequent tests come back positive, then we have plans in place to provide appropriate care.”

The hospital’s press office also added that staff are well versed in PPE and that patients get PPE when they arrive.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information after a man suffered a fractured nose during an assault in Ripon last month.

Between 10pm and 10.30pm on December 23, the man was walking along Priest Lane.

He was approached by individuals, who assaulted him and made off in an unknown direction, leaving the victim with a broken nose and in need of hospital treatment.

Police are appealing for the public’s help to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Officers are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who was in the Priest Lane area of Ripon at the time of the incident or who may have dashcam footage or CCTV.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two and ask for PC Lucy Mills or email lucy.mills@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and quote reference number 12200244105.

Read more:

• Police appeal after car drove off after colliding with a city centre building. 
• Police seek man who performed a sex act on himself near the River Nidd in Knaresborough.

Another patient has died with coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital, bringing the total number of deaths at the hospital to 80.

Figures released today by NHS England show the patient died on Thursday, June 18.

The death is one of 71 confirmed today across the country, with eight of those in the North East and Yorkshire. All of the 71 patients were aged between 41 and 95 years old, and only one of them had no known underlying health conditions.

The total number of deaths confirmed by NHS England since the start of the outbreak is 28,292.

Read more:

• Hospital confirms 135 patients have been discharged after treatment for coronavirus
• Harrogate care home deaths rise to 83

Harrogate District Hospital has announced visitors will be allowed on maternity wards with immediate effect.

Previously, the coronavirus outbreak meant only birthing partners could be with women during the birth, with no other visitors allowed. However from this afternoon, delivery suites are allowing one birthing partner can stay during labour and delivery up until women are discharged or transferred from delivery suite.

Once the patient is transferred to the Pannal maternity ward, they will be allocated a time in the day for the birth partner to visit. This will be limited to one hour between either 11am-12pm or 3pm-4pm.

At present children are still not allowed on the wards.

Safety measures will remain in place, for example the 2 metre social distancing is expected during the visit and around the hospital. Anyone visiting the hospital can also expect to sanitise their hands on arrival and wear a mask, provided by the hospital.

The hospital is advising visitors to not touch their mask once applied or remove in the corridors, communal areas and when visiting on the ward.

The new visiting restrictions are likely to be greatly appreciated by patients and expectant parents in the district.

Read more: 

• Two Harrogate brothers ran a virtual marathon to support the hospital. 
• Harrogate NHS Nightingale has had its contract extended until end of July. 

There have been no changes to ultrasound appointments and women are still required to attend these alone – but this is under constant review by professionals.

The Harrogate Bus Company is selling colourful face masks in order to raise money for NHS Charities Together.

The bus operator is making it easier for people to get their hands on a face covering. Masks are being sold in the shop at Harrogate Bus Station for £2.50 with all proceedings going to NHS Charities Together.

As of today face coverings are compulsory when entering hospitals and travelling on public transport.  It’s part of the next stage in easing lockdown restrictions set out by the government.

Face coverings designed by The Harrogate Bus Company

Read more: 

• Bike thefts investigated at Harrogate Hospital 
• Queues outside as Harrogate shops reopen 

The Harrogate Bus Company’s CEO, Alex Hornby said:

“The latest Government guidance is a simple ‘ask’ of our customers, so everyone can travel with peace of mind. Our buses are clean, safe and ready to go, and we want everyone to travel in comfort and confidence.

The Harrogate Bus Company is also giving away free face coverings to key workers who have been riding buses to get to work during lockdown – to claim, email: keyworker@transdevbus.co.uk with either your bus pass number, or the email address registered to your mobile ticket account.

The Harrogate Bus Company’s Operations Director Vitto Pizzuti (front left) and CEO Alex Hornby (front right.)

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council is reminding people to dispose of their face masks, gloves, wipes and tissues correctly. These items cannot be recycled and should be disposed of in general waste.

Harrogate’s care homes have reported 60 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic.

It is an increase from last week’s figures of nine more deaths in the town’s care homes.

The latest numbers from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are from the week ending May 15.

More NHS recent data from Bank Holiday Monday has revealed that there have been 62 deaths at Harrogate District Hospital.

With a lag between care home deaths and hospitals of ten days, it could mean that there could end up being more deaths in the town’s care homes compared to the hospital.

North Yorkshire County Council recently said it was stepping up its support to care homes for the 235 care homes in its area.

The council will support struggling care homes with staffing, PPE, infection control, safe hospital discharge, and more.

The number of coronavirus deaths in Harrogate’s care homes is still rising and is close to overtaking the number of deaths in the hospital.

New weekly data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that there have been 51 deaths in Harrogate’s care homes up to May 8.

During the same time period up to May 8, the Harrogate’s hospital has reported 56 deaths.

Harrogate District Hospital has been reporting fewer deaths each week with more days at a time now where the hospital does not report any deaths.

In contrast, care homes in Harrogate are reporting more coronavirus deaths each week.

A cumulative comparison of coronavirus deaths in care homes compared to coronavirus deaths in the hospital. Source: ONS

The Stray Ferret has produced a graph to illustrate the rise in care home coronavirus deaths in comparison to those in Harrogate District Hospital.

The graph only includes deaths where the cause of death is coronavirus. It does not include deaths where coronavirus is involved as that data is not in the same time frame.

To help care homes cope with the increasing demand caused by coronavirus, North Yorkshire County Council has launched a welfare checklist service.

The council will support struggling care homes with staffing, PPE, infection control, safe hospital discharge, and more.

All NHS staff working at Harrogate District Hospital will be able to park their cars for free during the coronavirus pandemic.

The government will cover the cost after a petition calling for the move reached over 400,000 signatures.

It also comes after some private firms decided to waive fees for NHS staff, who can pay up to £1,300 a year to park according to the GMB union.

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said: “I will do everything I can to ensure our dedicated staff have whatever they need.

“So we will provide free car parking for our NHS staff who are going above and beyond every day in hospitals across England.”

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust sent out a message to staff before the announcement to say that parking charges would be scrapped.

With a surge of volunteers signing up to help at hospitals, they will be able to use council parking bays for free.

They just need to display evidence of their role in their windscreen to avoid a ticket.

Ministers are also urging all businesses near hospitals to work with their local NHS Trusts to consider allowing NHS staff to use their car parks.