The first is that we have just surpassed the 4,000th inpatient who has tested positive for COVID-19 since March 2020. The second is that we have safely discharged more than 3,000 patients to continue their recovery at home. The third, with much sadness, is that we have marked the 900th patient who has sadly passed away as a result of coronavirus. .
When the pandemic began more than 20 months ago, we didn’t know quite what to expect but we prepared accordingly – transforming our hospitals to meet the demands of COVID-19 and reconfiguring services to ensure we had enough clinical capacity to meet the urgent and emergency needs of the populations we serve throughout Doncaster, Bassetlaw, and the areas beyond and in-between.
As guidance and policies changed my colleagues met each change and development related to this infection with the same determination, dedication and can-do attitude, implementing in-house coronavirus testing in in a few short days, distributing lateral flow tests as soon as they became available, and, most importantly, ensuring that colleagues received the COVID-19 vaccination within a handful of weeks – such was the widespread understanding amongst our staff of the importance that vaccination has in controlling the pandemic.
It has been, and continues to be, an incredibly tough period, but Team DBTH have done everything and more asked of them – and I believe this attitude has paid dividends, allowing us to concentrate a high proportion of our efforts on trying to get back to ‘normal’ and to try to tackle the backlog which has been caused by the pandemic.
With this in mind, we are now gearing up for what we expect to be an extremely difficult winter period. Undoubtedly this will be a time made easier by the plans and proactive actions we have taken, however, with flu, norovirus and the usual winter ailments circulating at a rate higher than seen last year, and with COVID-19 infection rates at high levels amongst our local communities, we are bracing ourselves for the days, weeks and months ahead.
Therefore, I want to ask every single person within our towns to please continue in your support for your local hospitals, and NHS workers, as we move into the colder months.
The steps you can take to help are extremely simple but incredibly effective – Take the offer of the vaccine if you are able, wear face coverings and socially distance, take every opportunity to wash your hands when you’re out and about and if you are showing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 – book a test and isolate as necessary.
Since the advent of COVID-19 vaccination and its widespread adoption within the country, we have seen the rate of mortality, as a result of the illness, decline by a significant factor. In our hospitals, we have seen first-hand the devastation this illness can cause – not just to individuals but also to the families who will sadly have an empty chair at the table come this Christmas time, and it is my firm believe that if everyone takes action now we can reduce the impact of this terrible virus.
Importantly, the actions detailed above of hands face and space will also reduce the likelihood of norovirus, or flu outbreaks on top of COVID-19 pressures and protect our most vulnerable family and friends in our communities and if they need hospital care.
So please – continue to show the same support that you have since the start of the pandemic all those weeks and months ago. Colleagues and I are immensely grateful of the sacrifices made by local people to slow the spread, and while we are not asking for anything quite as drastic as has occurred earlier in the pandemic, please be mindful that COVID-19 is still a cause for concern, and act accordingly. Hands, face and space wherever possible, taking your vaccine (or booster if applicable) and regular testing with lateral flow devices, and booking for a PCR if you become symptomatic.
Make no mistake, these simple steps will save lives this winter.
Richard Parker OBE,
Chief Executive at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals