Hospitals in danger of being overwhelmed

Chicklette, there are, unfortunately, huge worries about people's behaviour, once they have been vaccinated.

Many will, falsely, see vaccination as 'the answer', believe they are safe - and throw caution to the wind!

Some hospitals are quite full but only because beds have been removed for SD purposes. Also don’t forget the NHS is always overwhelmed at this time of year. Look back at the flu epidemic 2017/2018. Thousands of deaths then unfortunately no one batted an eyelid. Don’t panic, wash your hands.

The situation is worse than in March and will get worse but the lockdown is nowhere as strict as it was then and it should be. Non essential shops are still open, people are strutting around as though it’s all over. We are told not to go out if our area for exercise yet a beauty spot over 5 miles away was jammed with cars last weekend. To control this virus until all the vaccines are carried out we must have stricter rules, enforced by the military if need be. It’s the only way we will get through this. Boris needs to grow a pair and get tough.

So what’s happened to the nightingale hospitals and why can’t they open them? Money wasted as they know full well they didn’t have enough staff to work in them. The one at Washington has never been opened as well.

The only countries who understood the implication of and seriousness of covid were Far Eastern countries. They all used highly authoritarian decisions and it seems to have saved thousands upon thousands of lives.

I wonder if these lessons would work in the west?

This is a desperate situation,and surely the people who dont adhere to the rules, realise it is now time to act,stay at home and save the NHS who in turn save lives.

Daisymae

White wave - staffing?

Exactly!

I don’t know about others, but I am more concerned now than ever before. Here in Essex the rates are scarily high. I work for a tiny charity and we’ve had to close our doors this week for the first time since we reopened in August. My colleague/ friend and I were talking the other day and she said it’s the first time she’s been worried. She had covid in March but wasn’t as worried then. The whole situation is out of control, and I still see posts from people who think it’s a ‘scandemic’ and refuse to follow the rules.

I’m longing for the day we get our vaccines, and hoping that will be the beginning of the end of this.

My daughter's friend is a consultant in A&E. She is a mum of two little girls who she hardly sees as she always works over time. She gets home and takes a sleeping tablet then does it all again the next day. I don't know how long she can do this.

Daisymae, I just can't have any 'hope that it's peaked' I'm afraid.

We haven't yet got to the stage where the hospitalisations from Christmas infections will be at their highest.

The London Nightngale has had all the beds and ventilators 'moved to other hospitals' (I'd read this in several papers, and then it was reported on BBC news two nights ago). The site is going to be used as one of the mass vaccination centres for the capital.
So it was, as suspected at the time, just set dressing to funnel money to selected firms - and reassure people (?).

Apparently in some parts of London the rate is actually 1:20. I hope the message is getting through.

It's another couple of weeks before it'll reach its peak. Christmas/ New Year should have been cancelled altogether with no gatherings/ contacts whatsoever. Just stay away from people apart from those you live with.

In December it had been reported that if hospitals get overwhelmed they'll have the grim task of choosing who lives and who dies. There just aren't enough beds to cope with the surge that we're seeing now. More so if the need for ventilation increases.

The " choices " will be based on those admitted to intensive care, and who only have limited care and who gets an intensive care bed.
This was in the Mirror at the end of December when Essex was on alert.

Numbers are rising daily in our Nightingale. Which means it IS being used.

I do hope we’re near the peak staff must be exhausted and near the end of their strength and still people seem not to be getting it.
I’ve run out of fresh veg and was going to nip to Tesco in the morning but I think I’ll make do with frozen veg till I have my click and collect next week.

There is usually one nurse to each seriously ill patient but now there can be up to five patients being cared for by one nurse. Something has to give. One nurse cannot give the care needed to up to five people for very long.
It is a worrying situation for the NHS and all of us.

White wave - staffing?

The rates are so high that experts are saying that everyone should act as if they have it. I don't get the feeling that people are as concerned as in the spring. Of course it's impossible to stay on constant alert but we do need to acknowledge the difficult situation we are in now and for the next month or so.

Nightingale?

Just breath deeply, keep calm and carry on.

Just don't breathe deeply if you're anywhere near a person who won't wear a mask, or who doesn't wear it properly. Particularly if you're indoors...

Never has it been more important to protect our NHS and if this means more sacrifice then so be it. Stay at home, don’t mix, wait for the vaccine.
For those who have to work apply face, space and hands rule. Go straight home. Don’t socialise. Just breath deeply, keep calm and carry on. There is an end in sight, choose the right end, stay safe.
Keep on telling the party goers, the sneaky visitors and anyone putting others at risk, whatever their age, that they are the selfish buggers who will break our NHS.

Yes indeed we all hope that. The workload is exhausting and clinical staff feel they not able to offer their best to such a high volume of patients particularly those who are waiting for long periods in ambulances outside the hospital. All we can do is what we are told to do, stay at home and send all our good vibes/prayers/whatever is your thing to all concerned.