More people caught Covid-19 in Welsh hospitals last week than at any point in the pandemic, latest figures show. Public Health Wales data revealed that 381 people either "probably" or "definitely" contracted the virus in hospital for the week ending March 20.
Previously the highest number ever recorded was the seven days to December 13, 2020, when 358 probably or definitely caught the virus in hospital settings. Even during the Omicron peak seen in December 2021 and January 2022 the weekly number of hospital-onset infections never reached more than 261.
Betsi Cadwaladr UHB, which covers the north of the country, had by far the highest number of probable and definite hospital infections for the latest week at 106, almost double the week before, followed by Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB (71), Aneurin Bevan UHB (67), Cardiff and Vale UHB (56), Hywel Dda UHB (45), Swansea Bay UHB (32), and Powys (four).
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The rise in hospital-acquired infections comes at a time when case rates in Welsh communities have started to rise again. The latest infection rate based on PCR tests for the seven days up to March 20 is 429.4 cases for every 100,000 people. See the latest nationwide figures in full here.
As community transmission rises health boards admit it becomes increasingly difficult to keep staff and patients in hospital safe from infection. Even with strict adherence to PPE and infection prevention guidance hospital-acquired infections cannot be completely avoided.
Unfortunately it can lead to some vulnerable people, who were admitted to hospital for non-Covid reasons, becoming more unwell with the virus and even dying. However death rates have come down significantly since more people have been protected with the vaccine. High case rates in hospitals and communities also inevitably leads to more NHS staff sickness, putting further pressure on already-stretched services.
Similarly the risk of transmission in hospital settings is often further exacerbated by a lack of side rooms to isolate patients, the small space available in patient bays, and difficulties providing adequate ventilation in some areas. Thankfully the overall number of people in hospital severely unwell with Covid is still comparatively low. According to latest Public Health Wales figures there were just 14 patients in ventilated intensive care beds with confirmed coronavirus. Eight of them were based in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB), three were in Betsi Cadwaladr UHB, two were in Aneurin Bevan UHB, and one was in Swansea Bay UHB.
Figures are now being published showing the number of people in hospital being treated specifically for Covid rather than testing positive for the virus but being in hospital for other reasons. They show that as of March 24 there were 760 patients in acute hospitals with "confirmed" Covid of whom 107 were being treated for the condition. However the number of people in hospital with confirmed, suspected, or recovering from Covid combined is going up.
Speaking at the Welsh Government's press conference on Friday First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "As community transmission has increased we have also seen a rise in pandemic pressures in the NHS. There are currently more than 1,400 Covid-19 related patients in hospital – the highest level since early March last year.
"At this level wider hospital services start to be affected because so many beds are unavailable and, unfortunately, the risk of Covid-19 being spread in hospitals increases. The health service has worked so hard to reinstate all those other essential services it provides and to make inroads in all those treatments which were postponed during the pandemic. Unfortunately, with increasing pandemic pressures, this progress is eroded."
