Covid patients are being ‘evacuated’ from the South East to hospitals in Bristol - following data released by the NHS which reveals London is set to run out of critical care beds within a week.
Bristol Live understands some patients in areas such as London and Kent are being transported by helicopter to hospital in Bristol as part of the NHS’ plan to ‘work together’ as Covid admissions rise.
Bristol Nightingale Hospital, which is currently being used for non-Covid patients, is "on standby" and could be reactivated with some Nightingale hospitals across the country are "readied" for use as case numbers rise.
A spokesperson from the NHS said “Covid inpatient numbers are rising sharply so the remaining Nightingales are being readied to admit patients once again should they be needed, in line with best clinical practice developed over the first and second waves of coronavirus.”
A report by The Independent states that several patients from across Kent have been taken to Bristol in recent days following the rise of COVID patients in the south east.
The nearest available ICU beds to Kent are in Bristol and the Midlands.
A critical care consultant told the publication: “We have no choice but to evacuate the patients to other parts of the country. This is about as serious as it gets. You don’t transfer a critically ill patient unless you really have to.”
Meanwhile a spokesperson from NHS South West told Bristol Live both high COVID infection rates and winter demands mean hospitals are working together to manage admissions.
A spokesperson said: “The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to manage significant pressure either from high COVID-19 infection rates or non-Covid winter demands and this has always included mutual aid practices whereby hospitals work together to manage admissions.
“While the NHS is opening more beds in places like London to care for the most unwell patients, it is vital that people continue to follow government guidance and do everything possible to reduce transmission of the virus.”
Recent coronavirus figures show that in the South East region there are currently 3,796 patients in hospital with COVID, 5,371 in London and 1,124 in the South West. In London the city is at 116 per cent for critical care beds. More information on COVID figures can be found on the Government website.
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NHS England medical director Stephen Powis told the Downing Street press conference on Wednesday (30 December): “We asked all the Nightingale hospitals a few weeks ago to be ready to take patients if that was required.
“Indeed, some of them are already doing that, in Manchester taking step-down patients, in Exeter managing Covid patients, and in other places managing diagnostics, for instance.
“Our first steps though, in managing the extra demands on the NHS, are to expand capacity within existing hospitals – that’s the best way to use our staff.”
For all the latest information on Covid cases in Bristol and the South West see here.
