Emergency plans rolled out as Notts virus cases surge

HOSPITALS in Nottinghamshire have put emergency plans into action as coronavirus deaths and admissions continue to soar at an unprecedented rate.

Forty-nine people have died in Nottinghamshire hospitals in a seven-day period, according to health bosses. The deaths were recorded in the week leading up to October 28 across all three hospital trusts in the county.

By comparison, only two people died throughout the months of July and August this year as a result of coronavirus.

Health bosses are also liaising with trusts outside the county to secure support in dealing with the rising number of people requiring medical attention due to Covid-19.

A whole ward’s worth of patients are now being admitted each day, according to the Director of Public Health for Nottinghamshire, and there were 49 coronavirus deaths in the seven days leading up to October 28.

This means hospital trusts have rolled out what they call “surge plans”, which come in various sizes depending on the level required during this second wave of the virus.

Dr Andrew Haynes, Executive Lead for the Integrated Care System in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, a collection of local authorities, NHS groups and voluntary organisations, said: “We have been planning for a variety of scenarios from the summer because we anticipated a wave two.

“Those scenarios have included a wave two of varying sizes, so there are plans in place. Of course we do this in a normal winter, where we balance emergency and planned activity for the increased emergency demand.

“We do have plans, they’re called surge plans, and yes they have been operated both in terms of intensive care and the planned work and that will continue.”

Jonathan Gribbin, Director of Public Health for Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “I think what we need to do right now, individually and across the county, is to be focusing on the things that each of us can be doing right now to avoid the need for a contingency like that.

“This is within our influence. For the next 28 days, everyone needs to apply themselves to sticking to these new restrictions in every part.”