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We tried to get the full picture of the coronavirus situation in Liverpool City Region hospitals
Our reporters have spent the week trying to get full details and numbers from hospitals across the region
We have heard from top doctors who have warned that the rocketing coronavirus admissions combined with the usual winter pressures means the situation in local hospitals is close to becoming unmanageable.
There are still some who doubt the severity of the situation and suggest the hospitals are only undergoing the same strains as in any winter.
But what is perhaps not helping with some of the covid-denying theories we are seeing on social media, is a lack of clear, updated data coming from the NHS.
This has become a source of frustration in local trusts, with a feeling that these worrying numbers should be shared with members of the public in the hope that it will inspire people to behave correctly and follow safety measures and hopefully limit the amount of people heading into hospitals with the virus.
But it would appear that the centrally managed communications system is frustrating this plan.
As you will see from their accounts - this was not always easy.
And
The situation is clearly extremely serious, but when we asked the Trust for a full breakdown of the numbers of admissions for coronavirus patients, those in intensive care units and those requiring mechanical ventilators, they were not provided.
As you will read from the accounts of my colleagues below - this is not an issue confined to Liverpool.
And
I decided to try another avenue and contacted Liverpool's Clinical Commissioning Group, the body which commissions most of the hospital and community NHS services in the city.
Its chair, Dr Fiona Lemmens agreed to speak to me and expressed her own frustrations at the central NHS system around information sharing.
She said: "I can understand why journalists and members of the public are frustrated, because they really want to know and understand what is happening in hospitals.
"I share some of that frustration because in Liverpool we really want to get a public health message out about how worried we all are and how serious the situation is right now.
"That message is crucial in making sure that the public does the right thing in following the rules closely."
The article goes on to explain how difficult it was to get the info but heres a summary
At time of the article there were 408 admissions to Liverpool main hospitals. Thats 25% of all patients. 29 of whom are in ICU which is about half its normal capacity.
There have been 110 deaths this month alone so far.
St Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust didn't want to comment on the impact being felt at the two hospital and whether it was affecting other areas of care.
126 covid patients with 7 in ICU to 20th October but no further details.
Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was not able to give up to date figures. The last available data was 78 patients with 7 in ICU. This was to 16th Oct.
They are not currently cancelling any other treatments.
Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust refused to give any information at all.
Warrington and Halton Hospitals have almost reached the coronavirus peak seen in April. There are currently 110 covid-positive patients with 15 in ICU. There are another nine non-covid patients currently in ICU. The trust currently has an intensive care capacity of 26 beds, although there are "escalation plans" in place.
Earlier in the week there were a higher number of 116 patients (April peak 124) and there have been 17 deaths in a week. They commented on how it was different to April as numbers at A & E were at normal level unlike in April, but refused to comment on whether it was affecting other treatment at the hospitals.
Easy to do data on this.
Number of covid patients
% of covid patients at the hospital
No of covid and non covid ICU patients and currently icu capacity
Whether esculation plans are currently in planning / on standby / in operation
Whether disruption to other services was currently happening.
I rest my case here because clearly trying to highlight the point is distressing people.
Ive been trying to pull data from all over the place to put into a format that people can read in a nice little chart. I know this area and the demographics very well and over laying ward maps of covid rates with deprivation rates is stark in its correlation. I've said there has been a problem on the hospital data and looked hard at where Liverpool is compared to Manchester given the political stuff - its high in Manchester but the problem is acute elsewhere including places yet to go in T3.
But because i cant present this in a chart or a graph or a diagram or in a way which directly compares like for like, its has upset people. I wish i could and that has been my problem from the start.
Looking at the safe stuff is all very well but in terms of whats happening here and now and reflects the front line its really not very good. And i would strongly argue that the government aren't doing this either when they should be. The fact this data doesn't exist or if it does is near to impossible for journalists to get hold of doesn't speak well for transparency. It says to me that the government or local government arent managing the situation and making decisions off the back of huge amount data. It says the government has not got its finger on the pulse on overall management and doesn't actually know whats happening due to chronic and long standing poor communication between different levels of government. And local government is either being overridden in spite of data, sitting on information or struggling to get adequate lines of communication to government.
It turns out im clearly not alone in my frustration in this and i wish a few more people would wake up to why this is incredibly important and is a massive problem. I simply wouldn't make a fuss like this if it wasn't.