The hospital I work in is so quiet

[QuietHospital]

London hospital.
Half empty. Some wards have less than a handful of patients, some wards are closed. Most staff have been moved to wards so are falling over selves. While their regular work goes undone.
A&E very quiet. I’ve sent patients there who are seen immediately. The heart attacks, strokes and appendicitis cases are presenting too late. People with covid are waiting too long to present. If you get breathless then for goodness sake come in. I’m so cross at the initial advice to stay home until struggling.
Had a look through covid ward lists and vast majority patients are aged over 70. Hardly any patients under 60, those who are have underlying health problems for the most part. Lots more men than women affected.
It’s just a snapshot but echoed by colleagues in other hospitals.
I think we can / should start to move back to normal life soon for the well young people among us. I fear for the short and longer term economic hit. It’s crazy to have all these young well people furloughed or made redundant.

[LilacTree1]

Dobby the figures for the USA aren’t bad at all.

[Lolimax]

Exactly the same situation in the 2 hospitals I work in. A and E are not having anything near the strokes or cardio issues. Wards with empty bays. Covid palliative wards not even opened. And we are one of the highest hit areas.
But emotionally and physically exhausted staff.

[Orangeblossom78]

I hear the same about our main hospital, (city, in south west) it is 'eerie' and 'still waiting' for the patients.

[Twattergy]

Wow! If this is really the case in a lot of hospitals then it is good news, and surely should lead the way for lifting some elements of lockdown sooner rather than later. Acknowledging that hospitals will get very busy again quickly...

[imausernamenotanumber]

Close friend of mine who’s a senior nurse in a hospital in an area with a high number if cases. She says exactly the same. They’re ICU is nowhere near the chaos it gets to in seasonal flu season.

It’s a good thing, of course, but surely suggests we cautiously need to resume other treatments?

[MrsPworkingmummy]

I am one of the patients who was crying to 111 for help and they told me they couldn't do anything unless I was blue and couldn't speak. I am based in the North East.

[imausernamenotanumber]

Also - last I heard the Nightingale had started taking patients a week later than planned because it wasn’t needed. And still gas very few patients.

[NotTerfNorCis]

I'm relieved to hear this. Presumably lockdown has saved us from an Italy-style catastrophe.

[Orangeblossom78]

But we've all been told not to come in, to GPs or hospital, to phone 111...

[keeperswif]

Same in the community we keep moving "non urgent" patients just in case, but they will get lost in the system and there will be so much to 'mop up' as it were

[HairyFloppins]

The person who said they recovered in three weeks said the ambulance wouldn't come out to her when she had breathing difficulties.

[Kljnmw3459]

That's good new then surely? Perhaps some operations and treatments will be resumed. I'm assuming lack of ppe is not an issue in every hospital.

[thunderthighsohwoe]

A friend of mine who is a nurse in a COVID ward is working dangerous amounts of overtime and is so exhausted that she’s worried about falling asleep at the wheel driving home.

This is a genuine question, but if there are busy COVID wards/hospitals like this, would it not make sense to redeploy some staff to support them? Or is that not logistically/practically/clinically possible?

I’m a teacher and hate it when people say things like this without having an inside knowledge of how schools work, so please don’t take this as criticism. It’s genuine curiosity!

[missyB1]

So that begs the question why are we leaving patients at home until they are blue and gasping for breath? It’s madness!

[Fredthedoggie]

I had to go to a & e yesterday. Straight in- there was a red (covid) and green (non covid). Mine was green
Today sent to see a consultant (by a&e) again straight in

Loads of staff just sitting round chatting (I know that may change across the day), I spent a long time in that a&e/hospital last year and I know that that isn't typical.

My DH has had cancer follow up cancelled (treatment finished start March) and was due for checks to see if it has worked.

TBH I was a bit pissed off.

[LilacTree1]

MrsP how are you now?

The authorities don’t give a shit about actual humans, just the death figures- which are inflated by lack of testing and the whole “deaths WITH covid” thing.

And now the public are obsessed with figures. When will the daily press crap stop?

[BoBomian]

I agree op. We need an exit strategy and a swift and smart phased return to normal.

Maybe school kids have to take it in turns to go to school and attend only every other day taking turns. This way social distancing can be upheld to some degree, 15 pupils could spread across the classroom and dining halls with only 1-3 - half numbers in daily. Vulnerable people should self isolate and be supported with shopping and looking after their mental health. Key workers including teachers who live with vulnerable people should not be made to work. There can be a balanced approach it doesn't have to be all or nothing e.g. full on lockdown or bAU.

[Laniakea]

75% reduction in urgent cancer referrals in Scotland. This is not a good thing - the average 50/60 year old is far more likely to die of breast/prostate/lung/bowel cancer than covid.

I’m SE, just outside London - I got a GP appointment for my daughter on Friday (waited an hour for phone triage then straight in), A&E & minor injuries are empty, a friend in London with post-covid issues was seen in A&E today (chest pain, probably pleuritic - he & they were happy for him to go home). Half my family & friends are HCPs ... there is capacity people must start applying a bit more scepticism to what they read on social media - including mumsnet.

[Crispynoodle]

Yes same in my daughter’s London hospital. Tbf I’m sooo glad, you all had a very rough ride there. I know what you’re saying but can’t you all afford a week to catch your breaths and reflect? Unfortunately London was ahead of the rest of the country so some hospitals are still getting it tight. It would be a nightmare to try and allow some lockdown rules to be broken in London but no where else. Use your time wisely to plan strategies and research so this can be handled better next time.

[Theluggage15]

Dr Phil Hammond tweeted that a GP friend of his has done 2 clinics on the last 2 weekends for possible Covid patients near Bath and hasn’t had a patient. Being paid £900 per session!

[justanotherneighinparadise]

@missy absolutely!!!!!

[CloudsCanLookLikeSheep]

Happy it's quiet personally. I had a life threatening medical emergency on Friday, spent the weekend in ICU. Luckily recovered now. Thank my lucky stars the NHS was not overwhelmed and I could access treatment!

[Lycidas]

My cousin who works in haematology in a Birmingham hospital has said exactly the same thing. Never know it quieter and has very little to do.

[policeandthieves]

It's very difficult as in most hospitals the ITU and HDU remain very busy and theatre space may have been turned into extra ITU space but the general wards are quiet.
The problem is getting the urgent work done safely while not putting anyone at risk. We are operating on another site as if you pick up Covid post op its very bad news indeed.
All clinics are telephone clinics but we need to start getting people back in for diagnostic procedures.