The number of covid-positive patients in hospital has risen in 80 per cent of England’s health systems — showing the virus’ impact on the NHS is growing in nearly all areas.

HSJ analysed new official local data published by NHS England yesterday.

It shows that for the NHS’ 42 health systems (integrated care systems and sustainability and transformation partnerships):

  • 34 saw the number of covid patients in hospital grow in the week to 15 December (Tuesday) — in 18, it grew by more than 20 per cent.
  • 37 saw the number of new covid cases in hospital (admissions and diagnosed in hospital) grow in the week to 13 December (Sunday) — in 20, it grew by more than 20 per cent.

 For England’s 126 general acute hospital trusts:

  • 78 (62 per cent) saw their number of covid patients grow in the week to 15 December (Tuesday) — in 35, it grew by more than 20 per cent.
  • 89 (71 per cent) saw their number of new covid cases in hospital (admissions and diagnosed in hospital) grow in the week to 15 December (Tuesday) — in 59, it grew by more than 20 per cent.

Covid admissions and occupancy are rising nationally, as the UK approaches a relaxation of social restrictions over Christmas next week. 

These charts show the number of health systems and trusts with estimated bed occupancy over different levels — and that those at higher levels have risen over the past week:

stp-occupancy-split-181220

 

acute-occupancy-split-181220

These charts show systems’ and trusts’ covid occupancy as a share of their typical winter bed base, week by week since September. 

The charts are best viewed by downloading the image files and PDFs

STP-occupancy-heatmap-181220

 

acute-occupancy-heatmap-181220

 These charts show systems’ and trusts’ covid admissions (new cases), week by week since September:

acute-admissions-heatmap-181220

 

 

STP-admissions-heatmap-181220

Source

HSJ analysis of NHS data

Source Date

17 December 2020

Topics