Hartlepool health workers braced for 'absolute tsunami' of demand as covid cases surge

NHS data shows all boroughs in the Tees Valley are recording climbing virus rates in the community.Demand has remained high at both North Tees and James Cook Hospitals as staff battle winter pressures as well as covid cases.

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust was treating 164 covid patients on Sunday.

This is down from more than 190 people it was treating in the final week of December.

However, the continuing winter pressures and rise in community cases have prompted a dire warning of future demand.

A trust spokeswoman said: “While it looks like a slight drop, we’re waiting for an absolute tsunami.

“We’re in readiness for the post-Christmas influx.

“The areas we cover in Hartlepool are seeing rates massively increasing.”

Figures show Hartlepool’s rolling seven day rate of covid cases has risen to a new high of 727.1 cases per 100,000 people.

Middlesbrough’s seven day average of positive cases using positive test between December 26 and January 1 has hit 455.1 per 100,000.

Meanwhile, the rate in Redcar and Cleveland has more than doubled in the past fortnight.

The borough had one of the lowest rates in the country at 127.6 cases per 100,000 in the week to December 26.

But the latest data shows this now stands at 295.3 per 100,000.

Warnings of a third wave in January were sounded by North Tees medical director Dr Deepak Dwarakanath in the run up to Christmas.

Staff also warned they were very tired.

Hospital chiefs have created a new “team support worker” role to help stretched ward staff while high numbers of staff isolate.

Neighbouring South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust saw a plateau in covid demands in December.

But virus patient numbers at James Cook have started to rise once again.

It is understood the trust was treating 136 virus patients on its wards as of Monday with 19 people in critical care.

Last year’s peak saw the trust treat 152 patients with 26 in intensive care.

A South Tees trust spokesman said: “It’s essential that people follow the guidance and that we all do everything we can to stop the spread of this very infectious new variant of the disease.”

Tighter national measures are set to be announced by the Government shortly.

Labour has called for new England-wide restrictions to come in immediately.