More than half the beds at Croydon hospital now occupied by coronavirus patients

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

More than half the beds at Croydon University Hospital are now being occupied by coronavirus patients.

The hospital is currently treating 244 patients who have tested positive for Covid-19, approaching the 282 patient peak at the height of the first wave of the pandemic in April 2020.

Of the 244 there are 14 Covid-19 patients in critical care, with more receiving oxygen through non-invasive ventilation.

To tackle this increase in patients, the health trust has increased critical care capacity by a third, to 25 beds.

It has also created what it calls a ‘hospital within the hospital’ for people who need planned surgery or treatment during the pandemic.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said: “Our services are extremely busy, with more than half of the hospital’s beds full with patients needing care for Covid-19, and you can help us save lives by following the new lockdown restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.”

With the increase in demand on the health service, people are asked to call 111 or talk to their GP before going to A&E.

As of yesterday, 488 people who had tested positive for coronavirus within 28 days had died in the borough of Croydon since the pandemic began.

A total of 388 patients have died at Croydon University Hospital in the same period.

Public Health England said coronavirus cases in the capital were now the highest they have been been at any point in the pandemic.

And the latest hospital admission data shows that 828 new Covid-19 patients were admitted to London hospitals on January 2.

Pictured top: Croydon University Hospital