Covid: Royal Bolton hospital taking 'urgent action' over virus
A hospital in Bolton has said it is taking "urgent action" to manage a surge in patients with Covid.
Royal Bolton Hospital said it had experienced "one of the busiest days ever" and urged people to attend A&E only "if absolutely necessary".
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the government made a "major communications error" in not announcing new Covid travel advice for the town.
Bolton is among the areas hardest hit by the Indian variant of the virus.
The town recorded 451 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 20 May, the highest in England.
Government advice has emerged urging people to avoid travelling in and out of eight areas hardest hit by the Indian Covid-19 variant, including Bolton.
Royal Bolton said it was also placing an "increased focus on discharges to free bed space".
Deputy chief executive Andy Ennis said a number of patients were discharged overnight but 41 patients with Covid remained on the wards, with eight in critical care.
On Monday people were attending "with a range of problems and staff are working very hard to ensure they receive all the care they need as quickly and efficiently as possible", he said.
Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese, who is also health and care lead for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, said the number of Covid patients at the Bolton hospital was still less than a third of what it was at the peak of the pandemic.
He said: "Even though there is a high proportion of cases, that high proportion of cases is not translating into significant increases in hospitalisation, and, more importantly, it is not leading to more people in ICU."
He said those being admitted included people aged 35 to 60, and although some would have been eligible for one or two vaccinations, a bigger number of patients had only recently become eligible for the jab.
Mr Ennis said the hospital was "taking urgent actions to ensure we can continue to manage this demand effectively".
"Going into the bank holiday weekend and half term, which is always a busy time for the NHS, we anticipate this pressure continuing," he said.
"We urge the public to continue to take all necessary steps to protect themselves and others, follow the relevant national guidance, and to only attend our emergency department if absolutely necessary."
Speaking during a virtual press conference, Mr Burnham called on ministers to clarify the coronavirus guidance.
"It would appear guidance was reissued on Friday but has been amended and it would appear to put more emphasis around travel, hence the confusion that has been created," he said.
"Nobody in our system was told about this change in the presentation of the guidance."
Asked if residents should cancel holidays, Bolton Council leader David Greenhalgh said they should "just behave sensibly".
"Clearly over the last 24 hours there has been a degree of confusion but I am delighted to say, after a series of calls with senior officials from the government, Public Health England and NHS colleagues as well, we are in a position to be able to say with assuredness there are no added restrictions coming to Bolton," he said.
"There is no local lockdown, the position in Bolton remains the same as it did at the time of the prime minister's announcement 10 days or so ago."
Last week surge testing was introduced in the town and a new vaccine centre opened for those working, living or studying in the BL3 and BL4 postcode areas, where the variant has been most prevalent.
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May 26, 2021 at 03:35AM
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-57242368
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