Hammersmith hospitals see increase in patient numbers admitted to intensive care as Covid-19 cases rise

By Jacob Phillips, Local Democracy Reporter

Hammersmith hospitals have seen a rise in the number of patients admitted to intensive care as Covid-19 cases rise in the borough.

Imperial Hospital Trust, which looks after St Mary’s, Hammersmith, Chelsea, Western Eye and Charing Cross hospitals, has seen a rise in people entering critical care with coronavirus.

As of August 10, a total of 83 patients in the hospital had tested positive for Covid-19 and a quarter of ICU patients at the hospital were suffering from coronavirus.

In all, 17 patients were in critical care with the disease and 15 patients were on a ventilator.

Hammersmith Labour MP Andy Slaughter said: “Hospital and ICU cases have tripled locally since the start of June – though still way below winter levels – and infection rates are rising again.

“Up five per cent in the last week. None of this is good in mid-summer when there is less indoor mixing and other respiratory problems.

“The virus isn’t under control yet and we still need to show caution and make sure everyone is fully vaxxed.”

The number of Covid cases in Hammersmith and Fulham recently matched the levels recorded in January.

The number of Covid cases among 25 to 29-year-olds passed 1,000 cases per 100,000 on July 8 for the first time since January 10 and has remained high since then.

Recent data shows the number of cases for 25 to 29-year-olds reached 957 per 100,00 people on August 4.

The number of Hammersmith residents with Covid aged between 30 and 34 years old has jumped to 605 cases per 100,000 people according to the latest government data matching rates on August 5.

So far 55 per cent of 25 to 29-year-olds in Hammersmith and Fulham have received their first dose of the vaccine surpassing the number of 30 to 34-year-olds who have had their first dose.

On August 9, 48.5 per cent of 30 to 34-year-olds had one dose of the vaccine in Hammersmith.

Covid rates have also begun to rise in teenage residents since the beginning of July.

The rate of cases had reached 550 per 100,000 people in teenagers aged between 15 and 19 on August 5, matching the number of cases Hammersmith saw at the end of December.

Similarly the number of Covid cases for children aged between 10 and 14 has passed 200 cases per 100,000 people for the first time since January.

The government confirmed it would extend its coronavirus vaccination programme to 16 and 17-year-olds on August 5 after France and the USA began vaccinating younger citizens.

On hearing that the number of young people contracting coronavirus was increasing Hammersmith, Mr Slaughter said: “It’s particularly worrying that children and young adults are showing the highest rates of infection.

“Some will become ill or develop long Covid, but others may transmit the disease to older relatives, even some who have received the vaccine.”