The boss at one of Nottinghamshire's hospital trusts says increasing Covid infection rates in the community is a 'concern'. The case rates for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire saw a weekly increase of more than 70 per cent as the country disposed of its final restrictions.
There was a rise of 2,165 cases across the area in the week up to March 10, according to government statistics. Paul Robinson, chief executive at Sherwood Forest Hospitals (SFH), said he was "a little bit worried" by the trend.
"We're a little bit worried that if the community rates go up then more of our staff will have Covid," he told Nottinghamshire Live.
"Typically we'd expect five per cent absence rates through the winter and at the moment we're above six per cent. But back in January we had 10 or 12 per cent. There are concerns of transmission rates going up in the community and we really want to urge everyone to be vigilant."
According to the latest NHS statistics, 48 Covid patients were occupying beds at across SFH on March 8, however Mr Robinson says two thirds of those people are typically in hospital for another reason. There were zero Covid patients in critical care.
Read more: 6 Covid hotspots in Nottingham as cases surge across UK
Restrictions to combat the virus remain in place at the NHS trust, which runs Kings Mill Hospital, Mansfield Community Hospital and Newark Hospital. Mask wearing and social distancing is required, with some visiting restrictions yet to be lifted.
"We need to be vigilant that it's still around, it's still high in transmission rates in the community and people can still become really ill and need hospital treatment," Mr Robinson continued. "We're incredibly busy in A&E, not because of Covid and we're working really hard to try and address the number of people waiting for outpatient appointments and surgical procedures. Those waiting lists that have built up over the years."
The newly appointed chief executive said that the trust "haven't forgotten" anyone on the waiting list, which is at its highest point for years. He said that a "small number of patients" were approaching two years of delays.
"We apologise for that," Mr Robinson said. "We all know the reasons why some of those patient appointments couldn't take place. We're working really hard to ensure that we do.
"What I would say is that we haven't forgotten anyone on our waiting list. We try to keep in touch but I would urge anyone that is waiting, if they are concerned they are experiencing a deterioration in symptoms to get in touch with us."
To read all the biggest and best stories first sign up to read our newsletters here.
