- Jim Reed
- BBC News kesehatan health reporter
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Sister Jenny Cain on duty at the hospital.
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Many Covid patients are being treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle, England not yet vaccinated – dan new asked to be injected when they came in, said a senior nurse.
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The hospital is treating an unprecedented number of sick people – Covid patients and other conditions. Hospital directors say this may be the start of the toughest winter in healthcare’s 73-year history.
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The BBC was in the ER and on the ward on the evening of 2 December and the morning of 3 December, following the doctors and nurses – and meeting some of the patients.
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Head Nurse Jenny Cain joined Royal Victoria Hospital 17 years ago as a nurse intern. She has worked as a nurse in charge of the Covid ward during most of the pandemic.
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Her husband was a vulnerable group and was awaiting an organ transplant, so they split a room in the house in two and kept their distance for months.
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“There are a lot of deaths in the Covid ward. So it’s emotional and draining,” he said.
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“The adrenaline kept us going for so long and then, once it subsided, everyone just fell. We burn out.”
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The number of patients with the virus in hospitals has decreased – from 70 to 40 in the past month after the vaccine booster began to make a “very big difference,” according to Sister Jenny.
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However, many of the patients being treated now have not been vaccinated. They often asked to be vaccinated when they got to the hospital – even though it was too late by then.
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On December 12, UK health authorities will raise the alert level from three to four to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
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“I fear we are now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant of the Omicron,” Johnson said.
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“It is now clear that two doses of the vaccine are not enough to provide the level of protection we all need. But the good news is that scientists believe that with the third dose, the booster, we can all raise our level of protection back. “
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Deputy chief nurse Jenny Cain with colleagues in a general illness ward.
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The current situation worries health workers because it is not only caused by the virus.
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“You walk in there (ER) and it’s not ideal,” said Dr Jim Connelly, the consultant who runs the department. “Nobody wants patients to be treated in corridors, so it’s about trying to keep people moving through the system.”
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Conditions will become much more difficult this winter. UK hospital performance is at its worst level on record – with ER lines currently the longest since target was set.
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“Over the past few months the volume [pasien] higher than we have ever seen, “he said.
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“It’s tough on the staff, especially the junior doctors. Everyone wants to give the best they can but, to be honest, sometimes it’s just not possible. The volume is too big.”
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Dr Jim Connelly is a consultant at Royal Victoria Hospital.
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Delays in the care of the elderly and patients with serious illnesses during quarantine, have resulted in a build-up of schedules for surgical interventions and vital care.
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Recently in the Royal Victoria Hospital the bed occupancy is around 90%.
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That’s why Jenny never left the phone. He is trying to find beds for patients, resolve staff shortages, and free up space so those still waiting in the ER can be transferred to the nursing ward.
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In all hospitals, there are 63 patients whose condition is good enough to be discharged or transferred to another hospital treatment but cannot be discharged. About a third of them are waiting for the social care package to be agreed upon by the local government.
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“There is one person in one of my wards who has now been medically healthy for 20 days,” he said.
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When the hospital is full, some patients waiting for treatment are placed on beds in the ER corridor.
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When staff were asked about their feelings, words such as tired, exhausted, burn out is often the answer. However, almost two years into this pandemic, their determination and persistence are still felt, even in the face of the threat of another new wave of Covid.
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“It really is roller coaster emotions, “said Jenny Cain.
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“We’ve tasted everything – proud and satisfied, annoying, exhausting. But the team work and the staff are fantastic. Fantastic. I wouldn’t have that anywhere else.”
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