NHS hospital in Somerset seaside town of Weston-super-Mare shuts A&E and stops taking new patients because of surge in Covid-19 cases
- Weston General Hospital has stopped taking patients from today
- It said the move was 'precautionary' but did not reveal any more details
- It's not clear why it has seen an apparent influx of COVID-19 patients
- Social media speculated the loosening of lockdown has caused a surge of cases in the South West, after people flooded there last weekend
An NHS hospital in Somerset has stopped taking new patients due to 'a high number' already there with coronavirus.
Weston General Hospital in Weston-super-Mare said today it could not take any more admission including into A&E.
It's not clear why the Somerset hospital appears to have an influx of patients. Bosses said all hospitals have 'frequent' changes in COVID-19 admissions.
However, only one other hospital has had to take drastic measures due overwhelming coronavirus patients.
Northwick Park Hospital, in Harrow, north-west London, declared a 'critical incident' on March 25 when the epidemic was nearing its peak.
A handful of other hospitals allegedly turned away coronavirus patients because they were running out of beds, according to staff, all of which were in the capital.
The number of patients in hospitals with COVID-19 has been steadily dropping as a result of the lockdown, reducing by 11 per cent in the past week.
The South West has suffered the fewest deaths (1,157) and cases (7,524) during the pandemic so far.
But social media users were quick to speculate the South West will see a surge in cases as a result of the Government loosening lockdown.
Weston General Hospital in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, has stopped taking new patients due to 'a high number' already there with coronavirus
Weston General Hospital said today it could not take any more admission including into A&E
The trust said patients will not be accepted from 8am today (Twitter)
Social media users were quick to speculate the South West will see a surge in cases as a result of the Government loosening lockdown. Pictured: Weston-super-Mare promenade on May 20
Day-trippers headed to Somerset beaches after Prime Minister Boris Johnson allowed the public to travel to other parts of the country for unlimited exercise and sunbathing. Pictured: Sunbathers on Weston-super-Mare beach
There have been 114 deaths at University Hospitals Bristol and three at Weston NHS Foundation Trust - which run Weston General Hospital.
The trust said patients will not be accepted from 8am today.
It said there are arrangements in place for new patients to access treatment and care 'in other appropriate healthcare settings in the area should they need it'.
Dr William Oldfield, medical director at the trust, said: 'As with any hospital, the number of patients with Covid-19 will frequently change as people are admitted and discharged.
'We currently have a high number of patients with Covid-19 in Weston General Hospital.
'Whilst the vast majority will have come into the hospital with Covid-19, as an extra precaution we have taken the proactive step to temporarily stop accepting new patients to maintain patient and staff safety.'
Weston General Hospital is in North Somerset, which has so far had 406 positive COVID-19 test results, according to Public Health England.
It's fewer than next door Bristol City, with 694 cases, Wiltshire with 523 and the rest of Somerset with 669.
Suspicion of a surge of coronavirus patients in the South West region due to the recent easing in lockdown measures was rife on social media today.
The public are skeptical that VE day street parties three weeks ago may have driven cases up. Typically it would take around 20 days between a person being infected and them needing hospital care.
Others speculate Prime Minister Boris Johnson's recent loosening of the lockdown, allowing unlimited exercise and sunbathing from May 11, may have led to a wave of new infections in the South West - or could do in the future.
Thousands of people in England flocked to the South West and other coastal areas as soon as they were told they could travel to other parts of the country.
Day-trippers headed to Somerset beaches, including Weston-super-Mare. There was no evidence anyone broke lockdown rules.
But numerous local authorities across the South West urged people not to drive to beaches and beauty spots in fear that large crowds would increase the risk of spreading coronavirus.
Numerous local authorities across the South West urged people not to drive to beaches and beauty spots after the lockdown was eased by the PM. Pictured: Weston-super-Mare beach on May 16 after lockdown was relaxed
Pictured: Weston-super-Mare beach on May 20. The South West has suffered the fewest deaths (1,157) and cases (7,524) during the pandemic so far
Suspicion of a surge of coronavirus patients in Somerset due to the recent easing in lockdown measures was rife on social media today
Mark Canniford, Lib Dem mayor of Weston and member of North Somerset Council, criticised the 'total disregard' for the town's residents from day-trippers.
Speaking to The Independent today, Mr Canniford said he did not think there was a link between the crowds on the beach and the closure of Weston General Hospital today.
He said it was 'unlikely' and 'too soon' for any cases to have shown up. But he admitted 'you can't rule it out'.
'We have been behind the curve on the virus so we could just be catching up,' he said.
'The people you see roaming about don't tend to live here. People should not be roaming around. It's not fair to the communities they are roaming to. People seem to think they don't have symptoms so they're ok but it's not.'
There are currently 8,951 people in hospital with COVID-19 across UK hospitals, with admissions slowing in the past few weeks after the peak of the crisis in mid-April.
Some areas have recovered quicker than others, graphs show. London has seen a more drastic decline in hospital patients than the South West and East of England.
Dr Oldfield suggested it was normal for hospitals to see changes in the number of COVID-19 admissions.
But only one other hospital has had to respond to the crisis with drastic measures - and that was in London back in March.
Sunbathers enjoy the hot weather at Weston-super-Mare and groups gather for fish and chips, May 20
Weston General Hospital is in North Somerset, which has so far had 406 positive COVID-19 test results. Pictured: People on Weston-super-Mare beach on May 20
Mark Canniford, Lib Dem mayor of Weston and member of North Somerset Council, said he thought it was 'too soon' for the loosening of lockdown to be showing new cases of coronavirus, but admitted it couldn't be ruled out
Northwick Park Hospital, in Harrow, north-west London, declared a 'Critical Incident status' because there was not enough space for patients requiring critical care.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital and University Hospital Lewisham, which are run by the same trust on the south-east side of the city, were also unable to admit all critically ill patients to intensive care at the time, the HSJ journal reported.
Dr Oldfield said the situation at Weston General Hospital was 'under constant review'.
He said: 'This is a clinically led decision and we are being supported by our system partners to ensure that new patients receive the care and treatment they need in the appropriate setting, and we are continuing to provide high-quality care to existing patients who are being treated in the hospital.
'We have a robust coronavirus testing programme in place for patients and staff to identify cases quickly, with appropriate measures taken by clinical teams as required.'
The number of patients in hospitals with COVID-19 has been steadily dropping, reducing by 11 per cent in the past week
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