My local hospital is overwhelmed

[WeirdWomble]

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

@CherryPavlova That was all true before the pandemic. Not now. The government have actually had to run a campaign telling people to go to A and E with serious symptoms eg heart attacks, strokes.

Cabin lose, it remains true despite the pandemic. Most hospitals in Kent have exceptionally busy emergency departments and they aren’t all seriously ill or with significant injuries.
The government campaign is not pleasing many clinicians who see people with very minor illnesses and injuries clogging the departments and reducing staff and space to treat those who actually need emergency care.
There will be some who are too frightened to attend, I’m sure. That isn’t the majority of people. People with significant injury and serious sudden illness should, of course, attend. People with cold sores, ingrowing toenails and a bit of an unsettled belly, should stay away.

One critical care unit in London today was running at 104% occupation - clearly not sustainable and there was nowhere for them to escalate to. No more staff.
Plenty of machinery. Empty Nightingales but no staff. They are already reducing staffing ratios in many critical care units.

@ImAllOut every day the news is getting worse and worse. It's just crazy that no action is being taken