Pressure remains high at hospitals – despite merciful drop in norovirus numbers

By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter

West London’s leading NHS Trust has warned it is regularly seeing 100 per cent of its beds occupied, despite a drop in patients with winter viruses including norovirus.

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has recorded 10 cases of norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, since January 1.

A spokesman for Imperial, which runs sites including St Mary’s, Charing Cross and Hammersmith hospitals, however said it had more than 5,300 people attend its A&E departments during the week ending February 16.

This is due to ongoing pressures such as the volume of patients accessing care services and hospital infrastructure not keeping pace with demand.

It is understood the high rate of bed usage is not a new challenge for the Trust.

NHS England revealed last week there were a record number of patients in hospital with norovirus across the country.

An average of 1,160 patients were in hospital a day with the bug, a 22 per cent hike on the previous week and more than double the same period last year.

Data showed flu cases were declining though continued to put pressure on services, with 95.4 per cent of adult beds occupied.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS England, described the figures as ‘concerning’, adding there is “no let up for hospital staff who are working tirelessly to treat more than a thousand patients each day with the horrible bug, on top of other winter viruses”.

Three wards at St George’s Hospital in Tooting were shut earlier this month due to an outbreak of norovirus, with bosses warning it can ‘rip through wards like wildfire’.

But Imperial said it has not had to close any wards due to norovirus. The Trust has implemented enhanced cleaning in the areas where patients were based, which is common practice with many infections.

At times it also added messaging to the Trust switchboard and website asking people to be vigilant to signs of cold, flu and norovirus, though this again is typical winter virus precautionary action.

The NHS has a list of dos and don’ts for people with norovirus. They include drinking lots of fluids, getting plenty of rest, and avoiding fizzy drinks.

A spokesman for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said: “Our hospitals continue to be very pressured, despite a reduction in patients with winter viruses in recent weeks. Over 5,300 people attended our A&E departments on the week ending February 16 and our bed occupancy rate continues to be regularly at 100 per cent.

“To help our staff manage this pressure, it’s really important that people continue to use NHS services in the normal way. This means using NHS 111 for advice and support – and only calling 999 in life-threatening emergencies.

“We also urge people who are experiencing cold, flu or norovirus symptoms to please avoid visiting any patients in our hospitals to avoid the spread of infection.”

Pictured top: St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington (Picture: Google Street View)