If we are only a few hundred patients away from April 12th hospital peak

[MissMarpletheMurderer]

When we'd been in full lockdown for 20 days, what are the numbers going to be like in January when the Trafford center is full, streets are heaving and households have been mixing?

Or if they send the schools back?😢

Exactly.

I see in LA they have had to,put massive tents up in the hospital car parks as extra wards due to patient numbers. At first I thought wtf, that’s awful. But actually thinking about it, it’s a better idea than the stupid nightingale hospitals which they can’t staff. At least the staff are there, albeit now looking after double the amount of patients which is shit for everyone.

The nhs is going to be totally overwhelmed in days. Our local hospital already has military doctors on the wards helping with staffing as so many staff are off sick.

It's shocking ..... what is the answer thou?

I am so miserable for 2021

What’s the answer? Shutting the schools for a start would help.

Are they using the Nightingale hospitals?

The numbers in the south east are far worse than the north west. The south east is in pretty much a full lockdown with the current exception of schools. The north west currently has measures in place and numbers seem stable.

Yes, schools should stay closed until after the peak winter period, so maybe early March?

I think they will have to use the nightingales, because it's going to be better than trollies in corridors.

Staffing a tent on site is somewhat easier than staffing a nightingale (as specialists more within reach) but both will be challenging as staff cannot be in two places at once and each intensive bed needs nursing

According to Gove this morning on Sky the secondary plans are still going ahead with staggered start. Primary schools seem to be going back.
I want my kids in school, but right now I want them to stay home where it is safe!
The schools around my area have been horrendous!

My local hospital can't staff it's self let alone a nightingale.

Are the streets heaving? I was in Manchester city centre on the main shopping street on what is usually one of the busiest shopping days before Christmas. It was (relatively) deserted; there were people about but it was like a slow Monday afternoon, and mask wearing outdoors was almost universal.

I think many schools will be forced to shut due to lack of staff

The nightingale hospitals were a bluff I’m afraid. The government always knew they couldn’t be staffed. There are not enough staff for our hospitals as it is, there is something like a 40k nursing shortfall.
Tents in the car park won’t help either, not unless the car park attendants can look after the patients!
My dh( consultant), has gone from having 26 inpatients under his care to 75! Ward rounds take rather a long time.....

@TroubadorinTrouble

Are the streets heaving? I was in Manchester city centre on the main shopping street on what is usually one of the busiest shopping days before Christmas. It was (relatively) deserted; there were people about but it was like a slow Monday afternoon, and mask wearing outdoors was almost universal.

I wonder if people are just resigned to the restrictions here in Manchester now and roughly following them as they've not changed much since July?

@missyB1

The nightingale hospitals were a bluff I’m afraid. The government always knew they couldn’t be staffed. There are not enough staff for our hospitals as it is, there is something like a 40k nursing shortfall. Tents in the car park won’t help either, not unless the car park attendants can look after the patients! My dh( consultant), has gone from having 26 inpatients under his care to 75! Ward rounds take rather a long time.....

What’s the alternative? People dying on the streets, at home?

The hospitals are always going to be busier now than in April it’s winter. Usual flu and winter illness + covid. April covid and coming into a much less busy usual spring time. The headlines make it sound much scarier than it actually is. Yes there is an issue but it’s not as apocalyptic as the daily fail etc. like to make out

Its not only that lockdown reduces spread. During the last lockdown there was a reduction in general hospital issues like car accidents, drunken fights etc. Less beds were being used in general. Elective work had been cancelled for weeks all over the country. These things are still happening right now when they werent before.

I think the schools need to close. I understand this is a big decision but right now we are sacrificing an awful lot to keep children in a patchy education at best. Hospitals are already overwhelmed, they are overwhelmed every year at this time without covid. This was entirely predictable and has been brewing for years.

@JacobReesMogadishu

What’s the answer? Shutting the schools for a start would help.

How long for @JacobReesMogadishu ..... indefinite?

I'd be up for it if it works.

I suppose tents in the car park in a mild April were one thing, tents in the car park in January (when much of the country is experiencing snow) is another!

ITU in the north west is nowhere near where it was in April. South east is a pickle.

@SexTrainGlue

I think they will have to use the nightingales, because it's going to be better than trollies in corridors.

Staffing a tent on site is somewhat easier than staffing a nightingale (as specialists more within reach) but both will be challenging as staff cannot be in two places at once and each intensive bed needs nursing

@SexTrainGlue where will the staff come from?

In Scotland and we are all shut down.
It's the southeast with the hospital problem right now.

The nightingale hospitals were a bluff I’m afraid. The government always knew they couldn’t be staffed. There are not enough staff for our hospitals as it is,

Just had this exact conversation with my wife. They were all for show.

It's going to be same shit, different year. They don't know what to do.

@CountessFrog

ITU in the north west is nowhere near where it was in April. South east is a pickle.

But, if the new strain is to be believed the NW hasn't been affected by it yet.

Shutting schools is not the solution