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Original poster

My local hospital is overwhelmed

154 replies

WeirdWomble · 12/12/2020 20:41

Local hospital has tonight said that is struggling with the number of covid 19 patients and is asking people to think carefully whether they actually need to go to hospital.

I'm so worried. Surely the Christmas mixing when we're already in trouble is going to be an absolute disaster?

The vaccine has been such good news yet it still feels like we've got so much further to go.

Not sure why I'm posting, just needed to vent

OP posts:
ballsdeep · 12/12/2020 21:54

[quote StatisticalSense]@ballsdeep
You mean like the overly draconian one that they attempted last month that had no effect?
Unless politicians are willing to shut schools there is absolutely no point in attempting a lock down that just fucks over the economy.[/quote]
I think they'll shut schools. There is no other choice really is there?!
Fotre break didn't work or was too short, senior consultants were saying it was too short but everything was opened up.

I don't know what the answer is but I think we will be heading back into a march type lockdown

ImAllOut · 12/12/2020 21:54

Yes I don't think the decision to open the Grange early has gone as well as they'd hoped. As it's a critical care unit, people are being advised to only go with life threatening symptoms, obviously including chest pain, which is probably what a huge majority of patients are presenting with. A lot of people on the Facebook comments for ABUHB have said they were advised by 111 to go to the Grange/call an ambulance when they felt the advice should've been to go to the Gwent or other minor injuries units as they are now supposed to. The Grange is only really supposed to accept ambulance patients.

ballsdeep · 12/12/2020 21:57

@ImAllOut

Yes I don't think the decision to open the Grange early has gone as well as they'd hoped. As it's a critical care unit, people are being advised to only go with life threatening symptoms, obviously including chest pain, which is probably what a huge majority of patients are presenting with. A lot of people on the Facebook comments for ABUHB have said they were advised by 111 to go to the Grange/call an ambulance when they felt the advice should've been to go to the Gwent or other minor injuries units as they are now supposed to. The Grange is only really supposed to accept ambulance patients.
I know staffinf must be a nightmare ATM but you'd think they would keep a and e open in the gwent?!
DontStopThinkingAboutTomorrow · 12/12/2020 21:57

@londongirl12

Playing devil's advocate, aren't hospitals usually extremely busy this time of year anyway? I remember ever winter our local one in kent has ambulances queuing
Yes, but that's without the extra people from a pandemic. If a hospital has just 20 people on oxygen with covid, thats 20 fewer beds than they would otherwise would have for their "normal" patient load this time of year. In addition, if loads of staff are sick, it's going to really impact services.
DeeDimer · 12/12/2020 22:00

I think it's been a perfect storm of covid and the Grange opening. The trouble is if they maintained an A&E in either RGH or NHH (or both) there wouldn't be the support required...specialist radiography, theatres, ITU.
I don't know what the answers are.

Backbee · 12/12/2020 22:01

This happens every winter here, not saying that's a good thing, but it's so common place it doesn't usually make the news which is scary really!

Livedandlearned · 12/12/2020 22:04

I was thinking the same about the Grange.

I live close to ABHB but work in UHBW and we have wards closed due to covid outbreak, I don't know if that's the case in the Gwent.

ImAllOut · 12/12/2020 22:07

I'm not 100% sure but it seemed that one floor of the Grange was for covid patients but they pretty much ship them to the Gwent as soon as they can. My grandmother was lucky that she didn't need to go because she recovered quickly. I would have been devastated if they took her to the Gwent, bloody awful place.

ballsdeep · 12/12/2020 22:07

@Livedandlearned

I was thinking the same about the Grange.

I live close to ABHB but work in UHBW and we have wards closed due to covid outbreak, I don't know if that's the case in the Gwent.

There was an outbreak in the gwent , it was reported this week. 53 people and 16 staff caught it
Livedandlearned · 12/12/2020 22:09

@ballsdeep sounds similar to what's happened to us in Bristol, staff off with covid adds to the strain.

Original poster
WeirdWomble · 12/12/2020 22:15

111 seem to tell people to call an ambulance for anything

OP posts:
Original poster
WeirdWomble · 12/12/2020 22:16

I think the fire break was too short. We'd been in local lockdown for ages, at the end of the firebreak cases were higher than before yet most restrictions were suddenly bust dropped. A rise was inevitable

OP posts:
Original poster
WeirdWomble · 12/12/2020 22:16

just, not bust

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unicornparty · 12/12/2020 22:17

I saw something today that said SAGE were begging the Government to reconsider the Xmas 3 bubble idea as it's too risky. Wonder if they'll listen.

ballsdeep · 12/12/2020 22:18

And I think with schools open people just think "oh well they are mixing in schools!" And use that as an excuse for everything

CherryPavlova · 12/12/2020 22:21

Usual admission rates are down.

Hospitals are struggling for multifactorial reasons;

Admission rates lag community rises by out a fortnight.
There are too few places to discharge frail elderly people to.
Staff absences are high due to Covid19
Hospitals have to keep Covid19 patients and non Covid19 patients apart. Many don’t have the staff or accommodation to do so.
People are turning up to emergency departments rather than waiting to see GPs.

CherryPavlova · 12/12/2020 22:22

Hospitals have to get sign off at national level to suspend any elective work for more than 48 hours.

stairway · 12/12/2020 22:25

I think you’re right ImAllOut The only people I knew who had covid in the first wave were either really ill or died it was terrifying now That know so many people who were hardly ill at all, even very vulnerable people.

Original poster
WeirdWomble · 12/12/2020 22:25

@unicornparty

I saw something today that said SAGE were begging the Government to reconsider the Xmas 3 bubble idea as it's too risky. Wonder if they'll listen.
Something on bbc news a few hours ago where Vaughan Gething had said there's potential to canc el it in Wales but they're worried they'll massively lose public trust
OP posts:
Original poster
WeirdWomble · 12/12/2020 22:28

@ballsdeep yes, that's the attitude I've been hearing from people. It's incorrect and makes things worse but some people don't seem to be able to grasp that

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ImAllOut · 12/12/2020 22:31

I don't think many people would listen if they did cancel the the Christmas bubbles anyway. Most of the counties served by Aneurin Bevan don't seem to have paid attention since September anyway, I can't see further bans making a difference. I certainly don't think many police officers will be spot checking people's houses on Christmas Day.

endofthelinefinally · 12/12/2020 22:35

We have been shielding since March. The only place I go is to hospital.
We will stay quietly at home through Christmas and New Year.
So fed up with all the stupidity and selfishness and so, so sorry for the key workers and the bereaved.

Returnofthemaccys · 12/12/2020 22:37

People absolutely must not socialise this Christmas.

madcatladyforever · 12/12/2020 22:40

All I hear from people including fellow medical staff is I'm not having the vaccine, I don't trust it. It makes me want to scream.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 12/12/2020 22:40

@unicornparty

I saw something today that said SAGE were begging the Government to reconsider the Xmas 3 bubble idea as it's too risky. Wonder if they'll listen.
I seriously doubt they'll roll back on it, I think the most we can hope for is a HUGE 'just because you can, doesn't mean you should' campaign.

Really pushing the 'be patient, we've started vaccinations'.

It was utterly ridiculous 'allowing' Christmas bubbles. Yes, some people would have anyway, but lots wouldn't if it was illegal.