Hartlepool's hospital trust among hardest hit during covid second wave

Hartlepool’s hospital trust has seen some of the highest levels of Covid-19 admissions in the region since the start of the second wave, according to a report from health bosses.
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North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has drawn up a report providing an update on how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted services to date.

It praises staff for working ‘tirelessly to ensure services have continued’ and notes the pandemic has led to ‘innovative new ways of working’.

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However it also states both wave one and wave two of the pandemic have brought ‘significant pressures’, with the second wave of Covid resulting in a ‘much higher level of admissions’.

The University Hospital of Hartlepool, part of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust.The University Hospital of Hartlepool, part of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust.
The University Hospital of Hartlepool, part of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust.

The report from Lynne Taylor, director of planning and performance at the trust, adds the number of beds occupied daily due to Covid-19 peaked at 216 in January, and staff have worked hard to continue to support patients.

She said: “The trust has seen some of the highest levels of Covid admissions within the region since the start of the second wave in September, with between 100 and 200 plus beds occupied daily by Covid patients from the 1st October to date, peaking at 216 in January.

“The high number of admissions has mirrored the community infection rates in Hartlepool and Stockton which have often been higher than national and regional rates during the pandemic.

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“However, despite these pressures, the trust has continued to deliver the safest, quality and timely services to our population, reviewing and transforming our pathways to accommodate the challenges that have arisen.”

The report is to be discussed by the Hartlepool Health and Wellbeing Board when it meets on Monday, March 1.

It also notes issues have included the ‘ageing infrastructure of the hospital site’ at the University Hospital of North Tees and staff being forced to miss shifts due to Covid-19 related issues.

The report adds: “The ageing infrastructure of the hospital site, with limited single rooms to manage infection control and restricted critical care capacity compared to some of the larger hospital providers, has also brought with it a number of additional challenges.

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“Staffing resource has been considerably reduced, with the Covid sickness, test and trace isolation and shielding of clinically extremely vulnerable staff having a significant impact on service delivery.”

However the report also praises the response from staff in the face of ‘the unprecedented Covid pressures’ and the significant challenges brought to the delivery of health and social care.

Ms Taylor, in her report added: “The trust, as a health provider, has worked tirelessly to ensure services have continued to be delivered to our population, with patient safety and quality at the centre of all decision making.

“Our staff have worked as a team, at all levels of the organisation, to rise to the challenges, notwithstanding the inevitable impact on personal resilience.

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“Despite the pressures, the pandemic has released a number of positives, embedding innovative new ways of working and further enhancing a system approach to pathway delivery across local health and social care partners.”

The Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on Monday will be streamed live via YouTube on the ‘Hartlepool Council meeting videos’ channel from 11am.

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