Routine elective in-patient, out-patient and day case surgeries will be postponed “until further notice”, the Western Health and Social Care Trust confirmed today (January 7). The Trust, alongside all Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland, is facing unprecedented pressures due to the escalating rate of infection of Covid-19 and the subsequent increasing numbers of Covid-19-positive patients in hospitals. The Trust is already at a peak in terms of Covid-19 patient numbers, and projections indicate that from the third week of January, that number could be set to “double”. In addition, the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) is already currently operating at 118 per cent of its bed capacity.
Ulster Herald
Advertisement Posted: 4:37 pm January 7, 2021
By Emma Ryan
THE Western Trust has announced the cancellation of all planned surgery this week due to rising numbers of Covid cases.
As of today (Thursday), routine elective inpatient, outpatient and day case surgeries will be postponed until further notice.
Red flag and some time critical procedures and clinics will continue, but will be reviewed daily.
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The Western Trust is currently in the process of contacting all affected patients directly.
The Trust claim that it is already at a peak in terms of Covid19 patient numbers and projections are indicating that from the third week of January 2021, that number could be set to ‘double’.
Updated
Altnagelvin
In total 82 people were being treated as confirmed coronavirus inpatients in Western Trust hospitals at midnight on Tuesday.
Altnagelvin is now 1.81 per cent over capacity, according to the Department of Health daily update.
In terms of general occupancy 18.67 per cent of beds at Altnagelvin are COVID-19 occupied , 75.30 per cent are other occupied and the hospital is 1.81 per cent over capacity: 6.02 per cent are awaiting admission according to the latest data.
The South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen is running at 9.04 per cent over capacity.
Three of ten (30%) ICU beds at Altnagelvin are being used to treat COVID-19 patients; five (50%) are occupied by patients with other conditions; and two (20%) are free.
Another 26 people have died with Covid-19, the Department of Health said. Read More
Figures also show there are 483 patients in hospital with Covid-19, with 35 of those in ICUs.
In the last seven days, 10,850 people have tested positive with the virus, up from 4,281 for the previous seven days.
The Department of Health #COVID19 dashboard has been updated.
3,576 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 48 hours. A further 26 deaths have been reported (1 outside this period). https://t.co/YN16dmGzhvpic.twitter.com/5SSdklVV9W Department of Health (@healthdpt) January 2, 2021
Northern Ireland’s seven-day incidence rate is now at 576.6 per 100,000.
It has more than doubled in the last two weeks.
Another 26 people have died with Covid-19, the Department of Health said.
Figures also show there are 483 patients in hospital with Covid-19, with 35 of those in ICUs.
In the last seven days, 10,850 people have tested positive with the virus, up from 4,281 for the previous seven days.
The Department of Health #COVID19 dashboard has been updated.
3,576 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 48 hours. A further 26 deaths have been reported (1 outside this period). https://t.co/YN16dmGzhvpic.twitter.com/5SSdklVV9W Department of Health (@healthdpt) January 2, 2021
Northern Ireland’s seven-day incidence rate is now at 576.6 per 100,000.
It has more than doubled in the last two weeks.