19th January 2022
UK COVID Deaths – Daily 438 / 7-Day average 272
Total UK COVID Deaths within 28 days – 152,513
Total UK Deaths with COVID-19 on the death certificate – 174,233 (up to 31 Dec)
James Cook Hospital – Total COVID deaths – 736
All COVID cases within South Tees Hospitals Trust – 167
James Cook Critical Care
COVID cases – 6 (4 ventilated)
Non-COVID cases – 48 (22 ventilated)
It is now clear that the Omicron wave is waning. Local case numbers are falling but there is still a significant number of people in hospital. Yesterday saw our total number of COVID positive patients peak at 176, which is more than we saw during the first wave back in April 2020. However, things are not the same. Far fewer patients are as unwell as they were back then. The COVID wards are no longer full of people struggling to breathe. The hiss of oxygen masks is no longer ever-present and fewer and fewer people are requiring CPAP. There has been no need for any temporary Intensive Care Units and the number of patients on ventilators remains low.
Probably about a quarter of the patients on the five COVID wards have been admitted with other medical problems and their positive COVID test will be an incidental finding. In others, especially the unvaccinated, infection can still result in respiratory failure but the pneumonitis caused by Omicron is appreciably less severe than before. A third group is made up of patients in whom COVID has triggered other medical problems or caused a stable medical condition, such as kidney disease or heart failure, to deteriorate.
Whilst the situation is far better than we were expecting, the hospital is still finding it a challenge to cope with such a large number of patients. The staff sickness rate is decreasing but there are still many members of staff who are unable to work following infection with Omicron. Empty beds remain hard to come by and many patients continue to experience long waits in A&E.
Part of the reason that the hospital is so full is due to the difficulty in discharging patients once they have recovered. Many patients are unable to leave hospital due to pressure and staff shortages within the social care system. Others are unable to return to their own homes until a suitable care package is in place. Such delayed discharges inevitably lead to the hospital becoming clogged and the flow of patients grinds to a halt. Difficulty getting patients out of hospital leads to difficulty getting new ones in.
Fortunately, the number of COVID patients being admitted each day has begun to decrease and the situation should continue to improve. Boris appears to have already started celebrating the end of the pandemic. To be honest, it looks like he started celebrating way back in May 2020 and never stopped. For the rest of us, raiding the wine fridge at work and cracking open the champagne may be somewhat premature. However, despite the strain that the hospital is currently under, I am confident that the worst will soon be behind us and that the end is now in sight.
Hi Richard and everyone.
Thanks for all the support from you all.
I am with Lynn in Darlington, ARU. A big thanks to everyone here who is doing an amazing job.
I am sitting with 2 fingers on Lynn's NIV, Richard will know how nightmarish keeping a seal can be.
Lynn is on an NIV with 15 litres of oxygen.
When the NIV is off her sats drop to 30s quickly. Her CO2 is high , 9 on the last test from ear blood gases.
I am not giving up on her. A midazalam driver has been offered but no reason to give up. Lynn is asleep right now which is good because she keeps her NIV on
Lynn would…
So sad to read that your girlfriend is still so poorly-saying prayers for you both and hoping that you’re home together soon.
What are your thoughts on this rapid lifting of any restrictions Richard? I’ve been really unwell having tested positive for COVID on 28th December and now have pleurisy and a chest infection and am on my second lot of steroids and antibiotics. I’m feeling very anxious about my staff returning to the office en masse and feel this is very premature. I have no idea where I’ve picked this up from as I’ve hardly been out, and I’m triple vaccinated. Those who say it’s just been like a cold have been very fortunate I think.
Hi Richard,
Thank you for the update.
Let's hope we finally see a glimmer of light. This month has been awful. My girlfriend is in hospital with Covid now, she had only been home for a few days after serious pneumonia.
It's impossible to ventilate lifts and landings.
I know Darlington Memorial is struggling with staff sickness.
Waiting times in A&E in Wigan are also huge, patients are being treated in the waiting room.
For many caught up with Covid or facing long waits, it doesn't feel like the end.
Having been ill all week with Covid myself, it's like a proper flu. My temp has been over 39c, SATs 91 (previously healthy person). Fortunately I haven't needed hospital, in…
Very encouraging news. We've had false dawns before but this one sounds different. Thank you for all the work you do. You're the heroes.