Covid in Wakefield: Hospital numbers rise to highest ever level as cases top 8,000

There are now more hospital patients being treated for Covid-19 in Wakefield than there were at the peak of pandemic.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury hospitals, confirmed today (Monday, November 2) that they were treating 182 Covid-19 patients, up from 139 the previous week.

It is understood that 87 of these patients are residents of the Wakefield district, and 95 are from Dewsbury.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A peak of 170 patients were receiving hospital treatment at the previous height of the pandemic in April.

There are now more hospital patients being treated for Covid-19 in Wakefield than there were at the peak of pandemic.There are now more hospital patients being treated for Covid-19 in Wakefield than there were at the peak of pandemic.
There are now more hospital patients being treated for Covid-19 in Wakefield than there were at the peak of pandemic.

Coronavirus treatment at the Trust is centralised at Pinderfields Hospital, where it was last month confirmed three operating theatres had been closed to free up staff to care for Covid patients.

The district's health chiefs are now urging people to "play their part" in slowing the spread of the virus.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A total of 8,215 people in the Wakefield district have tested positive for Covid-19 to date, up from 3,100 at the start of October.

Jo Webster, Chief Officer at NHS Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Our hospitals are under significant pressure caring for increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients whilst at the same time providing safe services for patients who need treatment for non-COVID conditions.

“Despite the new restrictions, health services across Wakefield including GP practices remain open as they have been throughout the pandemic.

“We have learned a lot about coronavirus since the start of the pandemic and we know that the long term effects can be debilitating – even for young, fit people who originally had only mild symptoms.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Everyone in the district now has a vital part to play to protect themselves, prevent more people getting sick from the virus and ensure that our local health care services do not become overwhelmed.”

The district had been expected to enter into Tier 3 restrictions this week, but this was called off when Boris Johnson announced a new four week national lockdown, which will come into effect on Thursday, November 5.

People in Wakefield are now being urged to take steps to prevent the spread of the virus, including staying home unless for essential trips, wearing a mask in enclosed spaces and self-isolating when requested.

Anna Hartley, Director of Public Health for the Wakefield district, said: “We are continuing to see a rise in positive cases across our district and our health system is now under significant pressure.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The lockdown will come into place to help reduce transmission and that’s why it is absolutely essential that you reduce your contact with others. It is vital that everyone takes the necessary action to protect ourselves and others from the very real threat of COVID-19.

“Hospital admissions are increasing weekly, including admissions to Intensive Care. We need to act now to break that cycle and we can only do that by working together.

"One of the most important actions people must take is to self-isolate if they have tested positive, have been confirmed as a contact of someone who has tested positive or are in the same household. You must also isolate if you have symptoms and are awaiting a test or results. If you do this, you will save lives.”

A local testing offer for COVID-19 has opened in Wakefield, to work alongside and to enhance the national programme.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Residents in the district who suspect they have symptoms of the virus can now access tests via a home delivery service but people are urged to try the national system first.

Those without symptoms (asymptomatic) should not be seeking a test unless they have been advised to do so by a health professional, Public Health England or the Council’s public health teams – it could take a test away from someone who really needs it.

The local testing service is available from Monday to Friday and bookings for appointments can be made at www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 01924 224497. Or email the person’s name and contact details to [email protected] so the booking team can get in touch.

Anyone displaying coronavirus symptoms is urged to get a test by accessing local testing or by visiting nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119.