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A “major incident” has been declared in Essex, as the growing number of coronavirus cases threatens to overwhelm health services.
The announcement is in response to a “significant increasing demand” in hospitals across the county and is set up to allow local leaders to seek more support from the government, the Essex Resilience Forum (ERF) said.
The ERF, which is made up of members of the NHS, emergency services and local authorities, added that the number of patients in Essex receiving treatment for COVID-19 now it had risen to levels higher than those seen at the peak of the first wave.
He said cases are particularly high in central and south Essex, and infections are expected to increase in the coming days.
Intensive care and bed capacity are among the areas of concern, as well as staff illness and the ability to quickly discharge patients to safe environments.
Anthony McKeever, Executive Director of the Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership, said: “We are taking every possible action within the NHS and in the broader health and social care partnerships in Essex to limit the impact on the NHS and the system. general health.
“This involves using critical care capacity in other parts of Essex and the eastern region and identifying additional locations and capacity to assist with discharge of patients to reduce pressure on hospitals.”
He added: “Our strong working relationships mean that we can respond effectively to support our local communities.”
Mr. McKeever also paid tribute to his “fellow workers” who are “doing an incredible job under extremely difficult circumstances.”
Essex Police Chief Constable and Co-Chair of the Essex Local Resilience Forum, BJ Harrington, said: “Reporting a major incident allows us to seek further support from the government to address the severe pressures on the healthcare system due to COVID 19.
“The people of Essex have been great and are only calling 999 or going to ER in an emergency – we need this to continue because this will help protect the very limited capacity available in our hospitals.”
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‘Hospitals under immense pressure’
The county has the three highest COVID-19 infection rates in England. Brentwood is the highest, with 969 new cases registered in the seven days to Dec. 25, which is equivalent to 1,258.1 cases per 100,000.
That’s from 1,134.8 in the seven days through Dec. 18.
Epping Forest has the second highest rate, with 1,654 new cases during that period and an increase to 1,256 cases per 100,000. Thurrock, again in Essex, ranks third, although the rate has dropped slightly to 1,181.6 per 100,000 with a total of 2,060 new cases.
It comes after it was revealed that England’s hospitals are now treating more patients than during the peak of the first wave in April.
According to NHS England, there were 21,787 patients in NHS hospitals in England at 8am on Tuesday, compared with 20,426 on Monday and 18,974 at the peak of the first wave on April 12.
The United Kingdom also reported another 53,135 coronavirus cases Tuesday, the highest daily total on record since the pandemic began.
