Are hospitals busier than they usually are at this time of year?

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In previous years I remember seeing footage of patients on trolleys in corridors at this time of year but haven't heard anything about the current state of hospitals at the moment. How are things going?

Southend hospital declared a 'critical incident' yesterday. www.echo-news.co.uk/news/18932992.critical-incident-declared-southend-hospital/
It doesn't say if the patients were covid patients though.

It's different this year. Its not just about the number of patients. Its about staff being off sick or isolating, bed numbers reduced to fit Social distancing, random wards closed to admissions because of outbreaks, staff having to be allocated to covid and non covid pathways, sicker deconditioned patients needing higher levels of care, delays in getting equipment, staff who've been working nonstop since March, staff canteens closed, staff working in different areas, diverting resources to vaccination/testing services. So yes. We're busier.

Worst winter pressure for NHS is usually January. With the cases going up it’s a watch and wait scenario

Official shielding has finished yet HR in my trust are advising us to WFH until further notice due to the amount of cases in the hospitals...

@feelingverylazytoday

Southend hospital declared a 'critical incident' yesterday. www.echo-news.co.uk/news/18932992.critical-incident-declared-southend-hospital/ It doesn't say if the patients were covid patients though.

It's not unusual for hospital to declare critical incidents, it happens all the time, it just doesn't usually make the news.

Are the restrictions making a noticable difference to admissions for other communicable diseases?

You'd think if people are protecting each other from CV it would reduce D&V and Flu etc.

It feels quieter this year where I am anyway. Believe it or not, it’s a year since The Goris landslide and remember in the election run up the photo of the boy lying on the floor in the hospital? Some say a fake photo opportunity but either way we don’t seem to be in that situation this year.

Boris not Goris

Yes
Where I am there are people waiting hours in ambulances before they can get into A&E

Multiple questions here

Firstly how much spare capacity is available in the hospital overall, and the ICU compared to this time of year normally

And secondly, how many procedure have been postponed compared to this time of year normally

And thirdly, how many people are coming in as none covid emergencies compared to this time of year normally

And its important to remember that the vast majority of nhs care is provided in communities, in people's own homes. Community services are under huge pressure just now

There was a news item yesterday about the number of people waiting for a "routine" operation (things like hip and knee replacements - so we're talking about people in pain, unable to lead their normal life) having gone up from 1600 in February to 163,000 now. So that's one reason why hospitals may not be as crowded as they could be.

sorry - waiting over a year

@Ffsnosexallowed

It's different this year. Its not just about the number of patients. Its about staff being off sick or isolating, bed numbers reduced to fit Social distancing, random wards closed to admissions because of outbreaks, staff having to be allocated to covid and non covid pathways, sicker deconditioned patients needing higher levels of care, delays in getting equipment, staff who've been working nonstop since March, staff canteens closed, staff working in different areas, diverting resources to vaccination/testing services. So yes. We're busier.

this plus no filming crews allowed in to film the chaos.