Croydon Hospital boss says it is ready for an increase in coronavirus cases

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

“We are prepared for an increase in coronavirus cases”, the boss of Croydon University Hospital has assured.

Currently there are just 10 patients with Covid-19 at the hospital in London Road, none of whom are currently in intensive care. But things could change quickly if infections continue to spiral.

The hospital’s chief executive, Matthew Kershaw, gave an update on the situation at a Croydon Healthwatch meeting yesterday.

He said: “We are seeing a slight increase but it is from a very low base.

“It is also, compared to (the high numbers) we saw in the first wave, relatively speaking, a very low number still.

“We have 10 patients in the hospital who have coronavirus diagnoses, none of those are in intensive care.

“We have had somebody in intensive care in recent days but they have recovered enough to be discharged, which is fantastic.

“That is one of the things I would reassure the public about, coronavirus can be a very serious condition and there’s still no vaccine, but we’ve learnt much more about how to manage patients with Covid.

“The numbers are relatively low and we hope that continues, but if it doesn’t, as it has done in the North-West, we are prepared and ready to be able to respond to that.

“The numbers will increase, that is the nature of the pandemic, but hopefully if everybody helps out in the community, following the guidance, that will help to minimise spread and reduce the number of people who need to have health care.”

Pictured top: Croydon Hospital