Royal Bournemouth and Poole hospitals braced for summer surge

Schools broke up last week and both hospitals are already 'really heaving' said chief executive of University Hospitals Dorset, Debbie Fleming.

She told the Daily Echo: "This summer already feels very different not least because of the pent-up demand we are experiencing. We are unlikely to be able to draw breath before the winter arrives."

The vaccination programme has reduced Covid admissions and deaths in this current, third wave of the pandemic.

But Covid admission numbers are rising, hundreds of thousands of summer visitors are flocking to the region, restrictions have been lifted and high numbers of medical staff are self-isolating - currently around 140.

The 111 and ambulance services are flat out with 'stacking up at all points of the system.

The summer influx and more residents now being comfortable about returning to hospital are bringing huge pressure to 'front door' - the emergency departments, while there ongoing challenges in discharging medically fit patients into the community, through the 'back door.'

"This is still a massive issue, it hasn't got better and we need to do something different," added Ms Fleming.

Debbie Fleming

At the time of the interview on Friday there were 32 Covid patients across the two hospitals - down from the 400 plus in the January peak.

"But a few weeks ago we didn't have any so the numbers as expected are creeping up," said Ms Fleming.

"We know there are very high infection rates in the community. Thank goodness the vast majority are not seriously ill."

Even this relatively small figure is a challenge.

"The disruption is still very significant, especially in areas like intensive care and today people are really feeling it.

"We still have to be very careful in maintaining that separation been the green and blue zones, so the impact is still felt."

Ms Fleming said the past 18 months had taken its toll. Staff are "knackered."

She added: "I am confident in our capacity planning but I know at present we do not have enough beds to go into the winter. We know the demand is there. Let's hope it is not a Covid winter.

"A normal winter will be challenging enough."

Autumn and winter are the periods when respiratory diseases flourish

"We have built Covid into all our planning and we will always need to be able to run two separate intensive care spaces for example so we are learning to live with it."

On the latest pay offer from the government, she added: "Whatever the rise, it cannot and will not reflect the work NHS staff have done. "People seem to be very disappointed and we will have to work that through together."