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Tayside Covid hospital numbers almost double overnight

Ninewells Hospital could be affected by changes to specialist maternity services. Image: DC Thomson.

The number of people in hospital with coronavirus in Tayside has almost doubled overnight, with admissions at the highest level since February.

NHS Tayside is urging the public to help ease pressure on local healthcare services as hospital admission in Tayside continue to rise – jumping from 21 to 36 between Wednesday and Thursday.

Operational medical director at NHS Tayside, Dr Pamela Johnston, said some Covid patients are requiring treatment in intensive care and the high dependency unit.

She also said many of the patients currently in hospital are under the age of 40, with the health board expecting the number of hospital admissions to continue to rise over the next few weeks.

It comes as an outbreak continues in the city.

Highest since February

The plea comes as hospital admissions in Tayside are at their highest since 18 February during the lockdown earlier this year.

Hospital admissions in Tayside are now on the rise again, with 36 people in hospital on Thursday in comparison to 39 on 18 February when cases were coming down from the last wave.

In Scotland, 4,234 positive cases have been recorded on Thursday, with 275 people all over the country in hospital with Covid and 16 people in ICU.

Dundee still worst hit by Covid

Dundee’s positive case rates per 100,000 people are jumping up each day by around 70 with Thursday’s case rates sitting at 849.8 compared to Wednesday’s 779.5.

Another person has died within 28 days of receiving a positive test for the virus in Dundee, with five Covid deaths recorded in Scotland overall on Thursday.

Dundee had a total of 276 new cases on Thursday, bring the city’s total to 10,162 overall.

Angus had 109 new cases and Perth and Kinross recorded 173, with no new death reported in either area.

More Covid wards opened

Two more wards have been opened in Ninewells Hospital to accommodate the increased number of Covid patients.

This means the hospital now has three Covid wards, with around 60 beds available for patients who have tested positive for the virus.

Dr Johnston said the Covid Assessment Centre in Dundee is also very busy, with five times as many people admitted as last month.

She said: “These are people of all ages who are feeling very unwell with the virus and coming for assessment.

“Younger people still get ill enough with Covid to have to see doctors and a proportion of these do require hospital admission.”

Healthcare staff are self-isolating

Dr Johnston said healthcare services in Tayside are now under increasing strain, as some staff are self-isolating.

She said: “What is different for the hospital in this latest spike, and more so than at the start of the year, is that there is more emergency surgical and medical activity happening.

“We also have a number of staff self-isolating.

“All of these things together mean that all of our health and care services in Tayside are under increasing strain from this demand.”

‘Test yourself regularly’

The operational medical director urged the public in Tayside to continue following Covid guidelines, get tested regularly and be vaccinated when they can.

Dr Johnston said: “I know everyone is really fed up of living with restrictions and wants to enjoy the summer, but we really need your support to get the number of new cases down.

“Please, on behalf of all of our teams here in hospital and out in our communities, can I ask all of you to keep following the FACTS guidance, wear a face mask, avoid crowded spaces, clean your hands regularly, stay two metres distance from others and self isolate if you develop symptoms and book a test.

NHS Tayside is urging people to continue getting tested regularly.

“Test yourself regularly to make sure you are not passing on the virus to your friends and family – it has never been easier to get tested, so please make it part of your routine.

“It is also very important that everyone gets both doses of the vaccine when they are offered for maximum protection against the virus.

“Drop-in clinics are now running for everyone over the age of 18, so please get jabbed.”

The health board is offering vaccines across Tayside for all those over 18, with more drop-in clinics put in place this week.

Covid: One Dundee death but fewer fatalities across Scotland as vaccine ‘race’ continues