22nd February 2021
UK COVID Deaths – Daily 178 / 7-Day average 480
Total UK COVID Deaths within 28 days – 120,757
Total UK Deaths with COVID-19 on the death certificate – 129,498 (up to 5th Feb)
James Cook Hospital – Total COVID deaths – 581
All COVID cases within South Tees Hospitals Trust – 128
James Cook Critical Care
COVID cases – 23 (14 ventilated)
Non-COVID cases – 40 (24 ventilated)
Not much in the way of an update today I’m afraid. The keen-eyed amongst you might have noticed from the figures above that the number of COVID patients in the hospital has increased over the weekend. I am hopeful that this is a temporary aberration and that numbers will soon begin to fall again. Rather than dwell on this, I’d like to distract you with a charitable project that is aiming to raise money on our behalf.
Nick Piper and his family have been picking up litter in Saltburn every day throughout February in order to raise money for our Intensive Care Unit. The money will be used to help create an ‘ICU Garden’ at James Cook for our patients to use.
An ICU garden is a dedicated outdoor space within the grounds of the hospital that has been created specifically for ICU patients. Such gardens are being increasingly used to help long-term ICU patients recover. We can arrange for ventilated patients to visit the garden and spend a few hours outside whilst their treatment is continued. It is hard to describe just how beneficial it is for these patients to spend some time outdoors, experiencing daylight and fresh air for the first time in many weeks. For many of them, a trip outside serves to remind them that the outside world is waiting for them once they get better. It lifts their spirits and provides a huge boost to their motivation. During the pandemic, it would also allow patients to receive outdoor visits from their families. We all know how vital hospital visits are for patients and this is especially true for patients who may spend weeks isolated within the ICU.
This is an extremely worthwhile cause and one that I would encourage you to support if at all possible. Thank you very much indeed for your help.
You can donate here:
aw what a fantastic cause i,ll try donate now , not very savvy in technology but i can usually manage to spend money lol hopefully it,l be easy to do lol , thanks once again for all u do xx.
@mrsmac06 Hi. I don’t believe that hospital has any oxygen tents left. They were probably last used decades ago other than occasionally in children. Modern oxygen systems were much better at delivering higher oxygen concentrations and I’m certain they would be classed as a significant fire hazard nowadays. They were often poorly tolerated by very young children as they were isolating and surprisingly noisy. We do have newer, more comfortable nasal cannulae systems that are very well tolerated so it would be best to try this if, God forbid, she ever became ill. I hope it’s not a dilemma we ever have to face and that both of you stay safe! Cheers, Richard
Amazing work as always Richard and the team! Could I bother you in answering a quick question Richard please? My daughter has severe learing disabilities, hopefully she will have her covid vaccine very soon so she can go on to live a normal life as possible but because she’s so afraid of hospitals Doctors & Nurses because of previous hospital treatments etc we have to put a plan in place, in her best interests. Its no question, she needs to have this vaccine but unsure how a nurse will be able to give her the needle, whilst keeping her a calm as possible, she has so much strength and sedation has the opposite effect on her. My question is hearing…
@myemailsjh That’s great! Many thanks for that offer. I will be in touch shortly. Cheers, Richard
Hi Claire That’s very kind, thank you! I don’t think that there is a closing date. I suspect it will take a good few months before everything comes together. Anyone who wishes to can donate by sending a cheque to: The Secretaries, ICU 2 & 3, The James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW. The cheque should be made payable to ‘South Tees Hospitals Charity and must be marked – ‘Critical Care E113’ on the back. Cheers, Richard