Huge surge in Covid-related staff absences in Newcastle hospital trusts, shows new NHS data

Total staff absences in England in NHS Hospitals and trusts has risen in the last month.
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Covid related absences from hospital staff in England have almost doubled in the past month, with the increase in percentage from this week to a month ago being 197.7% as the new Omicron variant continues to quickly spread throughout the UK.

Figures provided by NHS Data, show the figures and rates in Newcastle for total staff absences from hospitals from November 29 2021, right up until this week. The data also separates the data, and provides figures on staff absences that are attributed to a Covid related absence.

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The data provided cover local areas in Newcastle such as Gateshead, South Tyneside, Northumbria and Newcastle itself.

As a whole in England, the total staff absences is a 37.32% increase this week from a month ago.

Hospitals are considered to be too busy if more than 85% of their available general and acute beds are occupied by patients. After this, patient care is thought to be compromised.

General and acute beds are for people admitted from A&E, by their GP, or who are recovering post surgery. It excludes beds in intensive care, maternity, and mental health wards.

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South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust saw an increase in total staff absences from this week to last month (29 November - December 5) with percentage increase being 25.61%, and the amount of NHS staff off from this trust from November 29 to January 2 was 3,870.

Total staff absences related to Covid-19 from this trust saw a percentage increase of 108.4% from this week to last month, with 845 staff members being absence due to Covid from November 29 to January 2.

However, for the latest week, the trust was not above the threshold for acute bed and occupancy levels.

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust saw an increase in total staff absences this week from last week by 28.71%, with staff off for a variety of different reasons being 1,648 from November 29 to January 2.

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Total staff absence due to Covid related reasons saw an increase percentage of 200.3% from this week compared to last month (November 29 - January 2). From November 29 to January 2, 441 staff from this trust were absent, and their absence attributed to Covid-19.

Over the past month, from November 29, there was only one week where acute beds wasn’t above the threshold, that week was December 20 - December 26, where bed capacity was below the 85% threshold at 84.7%.

The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust saw an increase of total staff off go up by 20.82% for the week leading up to January 2, from the week leading up to December 5. From the week commencing November 29, to January 2, a total of 5,734 staff were absent at any given time.

A big percentage increase of 178.7% of staff of with Covid related illness, from the week leading up to December 5, compared with the week leading up to January 2. The staff off with Covid related reasons, accumulated to a total of 1,466 from November 29, to January 2.

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For the latest week they were not above the threshold. Only one week from November 29 were they above the threshold of 85% which was December 6 - December 12 where the percentage was 86.8%.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust saw an increase of total staff off go up by 31.92% for the week leading up to January 2, from the week leading up to December 5. From the week commencing November 29, to January 2, a total of 2,712 staff were absent at any given time.

Total staff absence due to Covid related reasons saw an increase percentage of 205.8% from this week compared to last month (November 29 - January 2). A total of 655 staff from this trust were absent, and their absence attributed to Covid-19 from November 29 to January 2.

Only one week where acute beds wasn’t above the threshold. 20-26th December at 83.1%. All other weeks from November 29 are above the threshold.