Covid hospital occupancy hits new high for summer wave

At 5,429 patients, covid hospital occupancy this morning (16 August) was the highest since 16 March, when the winter wave was declining.

However, today’s figure is up only 6 per cent on a week ago. The number has been fairly flat, with no sustained decline or increase, since late July (see chart left).

The number of covid patients on mechanical ventilation — the highest level of care — was also at a summer high this morning, at 816 patients.

All regions have seen an increase in overall covid patients in recent days, although the growth over the past week has been most marked in the Midlands (see chart below). Figures seen by HSJ indicated the East Midlands has seen particularly sharp growth.

Eight hospital trusts today reported covid occupancy in all beds of 10 per cent or more. They are: North Middlesex (London), Pennine Acute (North West), Sandwell and West Birmingham (West Midlands), Bradford (Yorkshire), Northern Lincolnshire (East Midlands/Humber), Rotherham (Yorkshire), Barnsley (Yorkshire), and North Tees (North East).

Covid hospital admissions, and total positive covid cases, have also been flat since late July, rather than beginning a sustained fall.

It comes at a time of huge pressure from non-covid care, and staff absences, on most parts of the service. The number of adult general and acute hospital beds occupied by all types of patient was, as of last week, the highest it has been since pre-pandemic. Ambulance calls and emergency attendances are very high, and there is pressure to maintain high levels of planned operations, to prevent elective waits from growing even longer.