The Isle of Wight’s only hospital is bracing itself, not only for increased seasonal pressures, but also an expected surge in Omicron patients.
Nationally, NHS officials are predicting a peak of Covid-positive patients being admitted to hospital in the next week and have devised ‘Operation Reset’ to make space in full-up hospitals.
Hospitals in the South East are being asked clear beds that are being used by people who are ready to be discharged, but have nowhere to go outside of hospital.
62 people ready to leave but nowhere to go
At St Mary’s in Newport today, (Thursday, 13th January), 62 patients are medically fit to leave hospital, but have no care in place to be safely discharged, causing congestion on the wards.
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust, working in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council, is being told to move up to 50 per cent of these patients by the end of January.
Smyth: Can’t see how it will happen
The adult social care crisis on the Island, however, has left top health bosses across the partnership concerned it cannot be achieved.
Speaking at the IW NHS Trust board meeting today, chief operating officer Joe Smyth said he could not see how 27 patients, on average, could be moved out of hospital by the end of the month unless additional care capacity is created.
Taking up to 30 per cent of the hospital’s beds
Mr Smyth said these case are taking up to 30 per cent of the hospital’s beds, which has led to the cancellation of elective surgery and an increased wait time for patients in A&E.
He apologised to those patients who had had their procedures cancelled last week and hoped to restore the programme of surgery by Monday.
Smyth: Biggest risk is yet to come
Mr Smyth said he is anxious the biggest risk is yet to come, amid winter pressures and as the number of medically fit patients waiting to be discharged rises.
Darren Cattell, the trust’s new chief executive, said the hospital is taking its next steps with a degree of uncertainty, but the trust is “well prepared for whatever may be thrown at it”.
When asked about ‘Operation Reset’, the Isle of Wight Council said it was to ensure it has effective, robust systems and processes in place to meet current demand.
Love: Government is “completely failing to deliver on its promises”
Social care capacity is stretched to its limit, according to portfolio lead for the authority, Cllr Karl Love, cabinet member for adult social care.
As reported by News OnTheWight this week, Cllr Love accused the government of “completely failing to deliver on its promises” and said the Island has not yet ‘seen a penny’ from the £5.4 billion announced to transform adult social care in the next three years.
He said the authority has been asking the government for help for many months but it is “not listening, or taking any action.”
Covid patients in hospital
According to the Government’s Coronavirus Dashboard, as of 11th January there were 22 patients at St Mary’s Hospital who were being treated for Covid.
Two of those require mechanical ventilation.
That’s down from the previous week, where there were 27 patients being treated and three requiring mechanical ventilation.
Article edit
5.15pm 13th Jan 2022 – Thursday hospital figures added
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
