Hospital chief urges public to take COVID-19 seriously as inpatient numbers increase at alarming rate

HOSPITAL Chief Simon Constable is urging local residents to take COVID-19 seriously with hospital admissions in Warrington continuing to escalate at an “alarming rate”.

With COVID admissions at 158, as of yesterday, Friday, including 25 in ICU, the numbers are already above the first wave peak of 124 last Easter Sunday, and at current rates will surpass the 179 in hospital on November 6.
Prof Constable, Chief Executive of Warrington & Halton Hospitals NHS Trust, says numbers have been increasing at an “alarming rate” not just in Warrington and Halton, but across Cheshire.
“We have an established escalation plan for critical care as part of a network of hospitals across the region whereby we help each other out.”
Prof. Constable added: “We are continuing to do urgent and cancer cases and other non-Covid work and are taking every day as it comes.
“It is a serious situation and we are prepared for the worst-case scenario but we have been in this situation before and the most important thing is we continue to treat each patient as an individual.”
He hopes the Public Health measures, including the latest lockdown, will start to help bring the numbers down in the coming days and weeks, with it being too soon for the vaccinations to have any impact.
At least 3,000 vaccines have been administered at the hospital so far to staff and patients, which is set to rise to 4,000 by the end of today, with the aim of rolling out a further 3,000 next week.
But in the meantime, it is important that the public play their part by observing Public Health advice and lockdown.
“Lockdown is the key to suppressing the numbers,” he added. “Please take COVID seriously. We all need to play our part and follow the restrictions and take the opportunity to get vaccinated when it is your turn.”

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