To wonder why was the hospital empty today?

[SpicyEnchiladas]

Can someone please explain this if they knew. We live in one of the highest areas of cases of covid in the north west, and are constantly told by the local papers about our hospitals not coping at all!

So my friend had a car accident on boxing day and although she wasn't visibly injured, she was taken to the hospital to check that she's fine as she was very shaken after that. She dreaded going with the medics and avoided going to the hospital for the fear of long queues and catching Covid! She was seen after 10 minutes, had her x-rays taken, two consultants checked on her and was done within an hour!! When she came back home she said that they were only a few patients inside and it all went smoothly. Much better than her experience in hospitals before Covid.

Today, I had to drop my mum off to the A&E for severe pain in head and ears. She was fainting and couldn't even walk but they didn't let me in with her as per the guidelines. TBH what's what we expected anyway. I left her after the nurse reassured me that they will keep a close eye on her in case if she faints again in the waiting area. I left and before getting in my car, I received a call asking me to return to the hospital as she will be transferred to the ambulatory care immediately. They said that it's fine to have me with her to provide company and reassurance as it's likely that she'll be there for a few hours.

We stayed for nearly 4 hours, during that time I've been in and out of the department to use the phone, move my car from the drop off area, go to the pharmacy... it was nearly empty!! Only a few nurses insight. I was actually a bit scared whilst walking to the hospital's pharmacy as it was all dark all the way. Very quiet and unusual!! There were 5 people in the ambulatory care and plenty of empty beds and patient rooms.
I noticed the same whilst passing other departments.

I'm not doubting that Covid is indeed straining the nhs, but can someone explain why was the hospital not busy and nearly empty on both occasions despite us being constantly told that a&e isn't coping in our town?

Because it’s a bank holiday - less stuff scheduled
Because routine stuff has been cancelled
Because people with issues (minor or major) are too scared to go for medical treatment because of fear of catching covid.

@Xenia

It is a perfectly reasonable question to ask. We know someone whose daughter is a nurse and they closed the whole cancer ward for a week. They are making sure they are empty in case particular areas become busy with CV19 patients (and some hospitals are indeed very busy with CV19 patients).

It would be very wrong if we started stopping anyone writing about empty hospitals. Freedom of speech is very important.

My GP has texted everyone to say they are not providing any care now other than CV19 or anything life threatening - first time has happened in my life. It simply confirms to me that the NHS is never really there when you need it and we should be allowed an opt out and 20% tax cut if we opt out of it.

Let’s hope you never have an accident or serious illness needing emergency care. The doctors may be limiting non urgent services, but do you really think that the nhs is still not worth paying taxes for?

My dh broke his leg a few days ago and he was in and out in 2 hours. He said it was quiet

We phoned 111 and were triaged to a minor injury hospital so I don't think possible covid patients are being sent there.

Also a lot of people are off work so no work related injuries. No football sporting injuries
Kids off school and not really mixing much so no throat infections etc.

That was my assumption anyway. I'm sure the main hospital that takes covid are swamped

@BullshitVivienne

Obviously it's because Covid is a big hoax, is that what you want people to say?

If you look on the gov.uk website you can find specific admission and ventilator data for that hospital, so that will probably answer your 100% genuine, no agenda question.

Spot on. You can see these coming a mile off.

My GP has texted everyone to say they are not providing any care now other than CV19 or anything life threatening

Are you sure you read that right. My GP is pretty much the opposite. If its Covid related youre referred to another number and as pp said anything life threatening would surely be hospital and not GP treated. They deal with everything else I cant honestly see how a GP practise could say that

I dont think A&E is necessarily reflective of how busy the entire hospital is. You got a snapshot of one department you have no idea what the wards are like

People with covid are on Wards not knocking around A&E.

Cat Park is not busy because there's no visitor allowed, routine appointments and operations have been cancelled and its a Bank Holiday today. Also people are staying away ftpm A&E due to covid fears.

What were you expecting? People to be lying all over the hospital hacking up covid everywhere? Not sure you can say the hospital isn't busy because of what you saw. I'm also not sure it takes much imagination to come up with my answers. What is your explanation?

I was in A and E on Christmas eve. I'm covid positive. Myself and another chap were hooked up to our drips in the waiting room as all the red covid bays/beds were full. I can fucking testify it's not a hoax or an exageration or whatever. They have nowhere else to put people who are positive. They are full. Fuck knows what happens if the cases keep going up.

Why ridicule my post and intentions? This was a genuine question as I was expecting to find a full hospital with nhs staff running around and lots of patients sitting waiting because of the shortage of doctors. At least that's what I've been picturing in my head whenever the nhs is discussed during this pandemic.

Thank you for those who explained green and red zones. That's something I learned today as I haven't been aware of it. And yes we didn't pass any ICU unit on our way. It just looked eerily deserted and unusual! That's why I asked.

because they do not take non-covid patients on a tour of the covid wards?

Covid is hopefully making most people treat A&E in the way it should be - Accident and emergencies, rather than a walk in GP service

@Xenia can I ask what borough you are in? Thanks

@Kinneddar

My GP has texted everyone to say they are not providing any care now other than CV19 or anything life threatening

Are you sure you read that right. My GP is pretty much the opposite. If its Covid related youre referred to another number and as pp said anything life threatening would surely be hospital and not GP treated. They deal with everything else I cant honestly see how a GP practise could say that

It's more likely the other way around.

If you have covid symptoms or are in a life threatening state, do not go to your GP surgery.

GPs have been discouraging people with covid symptoms from attending in person since March and moved as much as they can online. GPs have never promoted themselves as appropriate services for life threatening illnesses or accidents, so it would be odd if they were starting to do that now.

My GP texted me the other day re: reminder about free flu jab btw.

Our GP messaged us to say they are available for advice for extended hours until 3rd Jan and the local minor injuries has extended hours too. They ask that we call them first and only the hospital for danger to life emergencies and 111 for COVID advice. They are looking to extend this in the short term to try to keep people out of hospitals where possible.

Covid patients are on separate wards from A&E, obviously

Someone posted on here that cancer treatment has been stopped.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of December and on 29th December I had an operation.
My consultant said that they are still treating cancer patients within 45 days.

@Pippa12 I'm very sorry about what you're going through. I really appreciate all the hard work and pressure you've been under since the start of this pandemic. I'm also grateful for how my mum was treated today. The nurses and doctors were all calm and kept their sense of humour which helped her a lot as she's been very nervous about visiting the hospital in these circumstances. Thank you so much for all you do and thanks again for clarifying about the zones.

Well it’s bank holiday so the clinics won’t be on and the hospital always seems empty then. Less patients are going to A&E since Covid. You’re not really going to see Covid patients sitting around on the corridors are you? I find these posts ridiculous.

Because the covid/suspected Covid patients are taken to the red zones and others aren't. Fortunately for your friend the time wasters who usually clog up A&E are actually staying away because there is a pandemic.

I was admitted to a covid ward. Full. Next day they extended the covid unit. The ward I was on was emptied to just 2 of us. The 8 others there had to go somewhere they were really poorly and on oxygen.
When I left I was walked round a one way system that took me out a back door and along many long empty corridors.

Had to go to a&e last week as open fracture to finger caused by accident at home. Seen super quick. About 8 people in a&e. Had to go for x Ray and walk through an area that was full of zoned areas all with curtains round. Very full but wouldn't have seen that unless I had to go x Ray. Been back twice since for clinic care in a&e and at front looks calm but behind doors it's so full the ambulances were waiting out front.

I work in A&E and people are still pouring in with trivial things. We try really hard to see them quickly so they spend minimal time in a clean area of the department. Sometimes it's so frustrating I want to say 'you have no idea! - round that corner are really sick people and exhausted staff'. So, I suspect your unbusy department wasn't really and they were just doing their best for you.

I can explain to you if you like OP. Its because covid positive patients are most likely to be on a ward not sitting in A&E. Another reason may be because people have to ring before attending A&E and are triaged before attending. It could also be because people who would usually attend for minor issues are staying away. It may also be because people are alone. How often before would you see one person accompied by 2 plus people.

I am a nurse. I have seen more death in the last few months than I have in all my previous years put together. We have lost so many patients in the last month or so. We are short staffed because our staff are testing positive to covid or needing to isolate, putting more stress on those still working. My best friend was in tears last night as she worked a night shift where young people were transferred to ITU and more commenced on CPAP. Out of curiosity what were you expecting to see? Every chair taken with an ill person? People lying on the floor struggling to breath?

It was quiet because you weren't in a covid area of the hospital. Surely it's pretty obvious that they wouldn't let members of the public wander into an area where they would be exposed to COVID

Simply the idiots are staying away. During the first lockdown I kept hearing our hospital was bursting at the seams. I ended up doubled over in pain and had to go up to A&E as painkillers wasn't touching the pain and it was getting worse.
When I got there , I was expecting hours of waiting times.
I was triaged immediately, seen by a doctor and had a CT scan arranged for the next day and even had the results 20 mins after the scan. All in all I was in there maybe half hour max each time.
So
Yes the hospital was busy with Covid etc but because of the idiots who clog it all up wasn't there, it wasn't.

No New Year's Eve celebrations with people drinking too much this year may have had an impact? Aside from the other things mentioned.

@Xenia do you mind me asking which NHS Trust you are under?