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Senior hospital staff have admitted that the prime minister’s roadmap out of lockdown is making them “a bit anxious and nervous.”
The doctors and nurses at Warrington Hospital have weathered the first and second waves of the pandemic and are now preparing for the “cold snap.” This is the winter surge of patients entering your emergency department with seasonal respiratory illnesses.
This year, the cold snap was late, but the sharp increase in emergency assistance means it is here.
Ali Crawford, Urgent and Emergency Care Lead Nurse at Warrington Hospital
In the past 48 hours, at least 392 patients have come to the Warrington Hospital emergency department for treatment, comparable to one of the hospital’s busiest winter days.
Ali Crawford, nurse leader in urgent and emergency care, told Sky News: “We are beginning to see what we would say are winter pressures.
“The next two weeks are going to be very challenging. The roadmap comes with good news, but it makes me a little anxious and a little nervous.”
There is a triple hit. Not only is there the pressure of winter, but sick patients who have stayed away from the hospital are now showing up for treatment. And the pandemic still has to be dealt with.
The hospital’s intensive care unit is still full of very sick people. COVID-19 patients. But at least there are fewer patients now than during the peak of the second wave.
The confinement has reduced infection rates – but according to one of the unit’s senior consultants, that doesn’t mean there won’t be sudden increases in the future.
The four stages of lifting the blockade of England
Mark Forrest, Clinical Director of Medical and Critical Care, said: “At some point the blockade has to be eased, but the government is in an impossible situation. When is it done?
“The numbers are certainly falling and the pressures are certainly easing on the NHS. We are starting to see some of the normal pressure of winter.”
But he added: “I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t another surge or wave.”
There is a lot to handle at the same time as the pandemic and all hospitals face the same challenges, from infection control to hot and cold zones to separate COVID-19 and other patient flows.
New ways of working need to be found.
Four tests to lift the blockade
Only a portion of Warrington Hospital has remained COVID-free for treating patients through the pandemic, and this area has now been remodeled with the construction of individual modules to ease pressure on its emergency department.
The small room with a bed and emergency medical equipment can be used to treat and protect vulnerable patients from the rest of the room. The beds can be rolled out into an empty compartment for patient examination.
Saagar Patel, consultant for acute and respiratory medicine, said: “We are noticing that normal COPD and asthma patients walk through the door now that we weren’t seeing a while ago.
“That presents another challenge, as we need to protect those who have been admitted with fragile lung conditions from any other patients who may have COVID within the hospital.
“It’s creating areas like this (non-COVID sections) which means we can get them out of A&E as quickly as possible.”
It is correct to wait for the summer. Vaccines and falling infection rates give us hope.
But it is a mistake to think that this emergency is over.
