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The number of Covid patients in hospitals in central Lancashire has peaked in almost four months – and around a third of them are believed to have caught it after being admitted.
According to data from the trust that runs the Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital – included in a note to staff, which was seen by LancsLive – 61 Covid-positive patients were being treated by the organization on June 17. This is the highest tally since February 25 – although it is still a long way from the pandemic peak of 193 in mid-December.
Nonetheless, the total number of Covid patients at the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LTH) has more than tripled in the last week alone – and is up from just four earlier this month. Almost everyone currently being treated has contracted the more transmissible Delta variant, which originated in India.
Ten of the overall total were in intensive care last Thursday – down from just two a week earlier – while three required “high respiratory care,” such as high-flow oxygen and non-invasive ventilation. The latest statistics available to the public show that as of June 15, no Covid patent had mechanical ventilation.
After: Specific Covid hotspots in Lancashire as very high rates continue
The increase in hospitalizations in central Lancashire comes around three weeks after the start of a sustained and significant increase in rates of Covid cases in Preston, Chorley and South Ribble. It is only in South Ribble that it shows a sign of reversing so far – while in Preston there were 326 cases of Covid per 100,000 population in the week to June 15, the highest rate recorded in the city since February 8.
LTH’s staff note also notes that on June 16, while there were 57 Covid patients at its sites, 18 of them were believed to have been infected with the virus after being hospitalized. This represented 31% of the total Covid inpatients for the day at the trust and marked the latest of what has been highlighted as “significant daily increases” in nosocomial infections.
Workers were urged to read a special briefing on the matter and to “continue to stick to infection, prevention and control measures to help reduce the risk of nosocomial disease.” [hospital-contracted] infection”.
Staff have also been encouraged to enroll in a saliva-based testing regimen known as LAMP, which is gradually replacing the lateral flow testing program introduced at LTH late last year as part national deployment. It is understood that although the latter is largely hired by staff, fewer have so far opted for the new system.
“It is important that as many employees as possible enroll in the LAMP testing program to ensure that asymptomatic colleagues do not unknowingly spread the virus in our hospitals,” the post said.
In separate communication with staff on June 15, they were warned that patients and staff without symptoms “are at the greatest risk of spreading infection.”
This email also revealed that of what were described as ‘recent’ Covid cases at the trust, 31% had not yet been vaccinated and 27% had received a dose – but 42% had received both of their vaccines. before they test positive. .
It was not clear whether the required two weeks had passed since the double-dose patients were vaccinated for the vaccine to have its maximum effect – and that detail was not available from the trust. The ages of those hospitalized were also not provided in the memo to staff.
Public Health England published research last week suggesting that a single dose of a vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalization from the Delta variant by 75% – and by 94% after two injections.
Last Wednesday, LTH suspended visits for most adult inpatients in response to the increase in Covid cases at its sites, including an outbreak in a department at the Royal Preston that has since been closed to new admissions.
In the June 15 message to staff, they were informed of the measures taken in response to the deteriorating situation. These include “detailed monitoring” of patients who are Covid contacts and communication with matron teams to ensure “patient placement is carefully considered so as not to spread infection”.
At a meeting of the LTH board of directors on June 3 – when no Covid acquired at the hospital was then reported to the trust – CEO Karen Partington issued what has since turned out to be a premonitory warning about the difficulty of avoiding it.
“Given the size of our trust, our [specialist] center status and high number of Covid infections in local communities during the pandemic period – linked to the age of our domain, making social distancing and ventilation quite a challenge – we will feature in the future in the rankings and press articles on nosocomial infections. “
Meanwhile, in a video message posted to the trust’s website last week after cases began to rise, Medical Director Dr Gerry Skailes said: “The safety of patients and our staff is our top priority and we have taken immediate action in our hospitals to limit the risk of the virus spreading.
“However, the best way to protect people is to limit the number in our hospitals, so that only those who really need to be there are at our sites,” she said, noting that the Royal Preston and Chorley Hospital was always ready to provide “the care that only a hospital can provide”.
Dr Skailes added: “Another way to keep people safe is to make sure we send people back to their homes or to their next point of care as soon as they are medically fit to leave. We are working with other healthcare and healthcare providers to do everything possible to expedite this process.
“I would like to encourage everyone to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as the best way to protect your health and the health of those you love.
“While it is still possible to contract Covid after being vaccinated, you are less likely to be seriously ill if you have received both vaccines. “
Like trusts across England, LTH is currently experiencing a high demand for urgent and emergency services. On June 7, it recorded the highest number of daily visits ever to its emergency treatment and emergency treatment centers at Preston and Chorley hospitals – a total of 604 patients.
LTH has been approached for further comments on the issues raised in the notes sent to staff.
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