Eight west London coronavirus patients in intensive care

By Julia Gregory, Local Democracy Reporter

Medics are caring for eight coronavirus patients in intensive care at one West London hospital trust.

The eight patients were being cared for on ventilators by staff at Imperial NHS Foundation Trust – used for those who are seriously ill and need help with breathing.

Overall 31 patients had tested positive for the virus when they were admitted to hospitals run by the trust, according to the latest figures released on Monday.

The trust includes Hammersmith Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital in Fulham and St Mary’s in Paddington, which were all at the forefront of caring for patients during the first wave.

Across the capital there are 549 coronavirus patients in hospitals – 88 of them on ventilation.

The number of patients being ventilated has gone up from 66 one week ago, according to government data.

And on October 7 there were 37 hospital admissions of people who tested positive for coronavirus – this had more than doubled to 88 in London on Monday.