Hospital Admissions Low Despite Rising Covid Infection Rates
Number of people in intensive care locally not increasing
Demand for intensive care beds and ventilators steady
The number of Covid-19 patients needing intensive care in West London hospitals has remained low despite a rise in infection rates.
The boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow have seen the highest levels of Covid outbreaks since the new Indian or Delta variant has become widespread in the UK.
Hounslow was singled out with additional Covid guidelines by the Department of Health on 21 May, as its infection rate rose to 51 cases per 100,000 residents.
Ealing, the second largest borough in London, has seen its own infection rate climb to 55 cases per 100,000 as of 2 June – the most recent data available.
Hammersmith and Fulham has also seen a steady rise. It’s infection rate for June 2 was 42.1 cases per 100,000, up from 25.4 just seven days earlier.
Despite the increase in infections – due to the Delta variant being more transmissible – there has not been an influx of patients at local hospitals.
The high efficacy of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines has been credited for keeping hospital patients numbers relatively low.
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust runs three hospitals – Charing Cross, Hammersmith and St Mary’s.
The latest data available shows that, as of 1 June, there were 28 patients with Covid at the three hospitals. This figure was the same as of 25 May.
However, only seven of those 28 patients were in intensive care and required a mechanical ventilator.
Meanwhile, the London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust runs Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal, and Ealing Hospital in Southall.
On 1 June there were a total of 12 Covid-positive patients in the three hospitals. The total has stayed below 20 since mid April.
And of those 12 Covid patients who were present at three sites on 1 June, only three required a mechanical ventilator.
Across all of London, an average of 20 new patients with Covid were admitted to hospital per day over the seven days leading up to 5 June.
As of this Monday (7 June) a total of 252 patients with Covid are in London hospitals – its highest point since 21 May. Of that total, 42 patients require a ventilator, a figure that has remained steady since late May.
Owen Sheppard - Local Democracy Reporter
June 8, 2021