NHS Tayside is bracing itself for a potential “perfect storm” of events as it faces “the most challenging winter.”
The health board is gearing up for a rise in hospital admissions following the festive period.
This year’s winter plan has been drawn up preparing for an increase in the number of COVID and non-COVID patients being admitted to hospital.
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NHS Tayside’s clinical lead for winter planning, Dr David Connell, presented the winter plan to the board yesterday.
He was asked about a surge in cases following Thanksgiving in America and if a similar surge was expected after Christmas here.
Dr Connell told the board health professionals were not only preparing to see a rise in COVID cases in January but in non-COVID cases.
Dr Connell said: “We have to not only be able to cope with that peak but simultaneous non-COVID peaks of illnesses as well and I think that’s what is going to be different about January.
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“In wave one we had basically purely COVID cases stressing us. As we moved to autumn we have had alternating COVID and non-COVID stresses. And into January we are really going to have to deal with simultaneous stresses.
“I think one of the lessons we have had from North America Thanksgiving and any time there has been – across the world – mixes of people we have seen these spikes.
“As case rates rise – as night follows day – hospitalisations follow on from that.”
As the PA went to press there have been a total of 6822 positive COVID cases in Tayside since the first positive case was detected on March 1.
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There are currently 79 COVID-positive patients in Tayside hospitals with two patients in intensive care and two patients in the high dependency unit.
A total of 93,930 people in Tayside have been tested.
Dr Emma Fletcher, NHS Tayside’s director of public health, said: “The next couple of months are going to be some of the most challenging we will experience.
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“The vaccine is excellent news but there is significant risk of increased incident of COVID over the next few weeks and it is really important that everyone continues to follow the guidance and stick with it.”
Perth City Centre SNP councillor Eric Drysdale – who sits on the board – said: “We have a perfect storm of a winter with the combination of COVID, possibly bad weather, the flu situation and of course the EU exit.”
