Some UK hospitals will be kept Covid-free in the second wave | Society

A series of hospitals will be designated as coronavirus-free zones during the second wave of the outbreak. NHS The Guardian learned to continue treatment for cancer and other conditions.

NHS England has decided not to repeat the widespread outages of normal service that occurred in the first wave. Doctors and charities have accused patients of harming their health, leading to more deaths and creating millions of treatment backlogs.

With the implicit understanding that the patient’s vital care was denied due to the March shutdown, the NHS boss did not treat the Covid-19 patient, but instead replaced it with common planned surgery such as cancer surgery, hips, and knees. To focus, we have created plans for specific hospitals (mainly small districts in general) replacement, and cataract removal.

Under the NHS program, such “clean” hospitals should be kept as far away from coronavirus patients as possible, contrary to the approach adopted in the spring. This reduces the risk of Covid-19 infection in patients hospitalized with normal care while in the ward.

NHS executives have admitted that too many patients have been postponed because they were worried that patients who received diagnostic tests or hospital treatment during the pandemic might become infected with Covid-19.

“We don’t want it to happen again because people didn’t come for a completely understandable reason, so this time people are more open and more selective care is available. Need to be informed and made accessible for the treatment of cancer and the like. “

Whittington Hospital in northern London is designated as a coronavirus-free site. It does not accept infected patients, so it is possible to perform non-urgent and planned surgery. Covid-19 patients who usually go there are treated instead at University College London Hospital or the nearby Royal Free Hospital.

Similarly, in northwest London, Ealing and Hillingon hospitals will play the same role as Whittington during the second wave, and coronavirus-positive patients will be treated at St. Mary’s or Chelsea and Westminster hospitals. There is a possibility.

Another official said: “Some hospitals do selective work, others do nothing, others combine electives, and some have Covid-positive patients in their ICU. [intensive care units].. hospital It’s easier if you don’t take Covid. “

Millions of people missed NHS care after the coronavirus approach was prioritized in the first wave. According to the latest statistics, more than a record two million people (three times the same period last year) had to wait more than 18 weeks to start hospital treatment in the UK.

NHS executives said: “Everyone in the country thinks that hospitals can be divided into Covid hospitals and non-Covid hospitals. We don’t want to avoid this wave and stop all selective work. We aim to do the opposite: to continue selective care by allowing some locations to remain Covid-free and focus on surgery. “

Due to the long distances between hospitals, it is much more likely that the entire hospital will be designated as free of coronavirus in the city center than in the rural and coastal areas of England.

A group representing the NHS Trust welcomed plans for Covid and non-Covid facilities. Saffron Cordery, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the NHS Provider, said: “This time, it makes sense to be prepared to continue as much regular care as possible, including identifying Covid and non-Covid sites.

“This approach can reduce the impact of necessary but annoying infection control measures, such as deeper and more frequent cleaning and the need for cumbersome protective equipment to be worn or replaced. That is, patient treatment and care. It should improve your ability. Much has been learned since the first wave of the pandemic. “

All 44 regions of the NHS were told to make detailed plans to continue selective care as much as possible, even if the coronavirus puts great pressure on hospitals again. However, some trusts do so by providing both Covid and non-Covid care in the same hospital and maintaining strict infection control. Some people use smaller facilities without A & E, such as Kidderminster Hospital and Cannock Hospital in Midland.

Leila McKay, director of the NHS Confederation, said: “NHS leaders and front-line staff continue to work to provide care to all patients. We had to put off selective treatment during the peak spring of Covid-19, but now It is also important to resume normal service as much as possible.

“Backlogs are record highs, so it’s important to find innovative and creative ways to meet demand, especially during the turbulent winter months. Patients don’t have to wait longer than they need to. We recommend a solution that allows hospitals to work together to provide specialist care while lowering the waiting list. “