Newcastle hospitals still treating 158 Covid patients per day

Patients in the centre of Newcastle also tend to be in a worse condition than elsewhere
Hundreds of patients are still in hospital (Image: Getty Images)Hundreds of patients are still in hospital (Image: Getty Images)
Hundreds of patients are still in hospital (Image: Getty Images)

Hospitals across Newcastle are still caring for an average of 158 Covid patients per day, research shows.

Reporter Helen Johnson uncovered the figures whilst researching what proportion of Covid patients are on mechanical ventilators at each hospital trust in the week ending 28 September.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the daily average for the number of Covid patients was 60.

The Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust recorded 35 patients and the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust are currently treating 63 per day.

That adds up to a total of 158 Covid patients in the hospitals every day, despite the dwindling number of overall cases.

Research also showed that those being cared for in the centre of Newcastle tended to be in worse conditions than elsewhere.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the Newcastle Upon Tyne Trust, of the 60 average patients, 11 would be reliant on mechanical ventilators.

That figure equates to 18% which is the worst in the region.

The Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust is the best off, with just 12% of patients on breathing equipment.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is in between the two, with 14% of its patients per day using the equipment.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On a national scale, more than two-and-a-half times more people are in hospital with Covid in the North East of England and Yorkshire compared to parts of the South, found National World.

Data from the UK Covid dashboard shows that the North East and Yorkshire NHS Region had a daily average of 12.5 Covid patients for every 100,000 residents from 25 September to 1 October.

The South-East in comparison had a rate of 4.8 per 100,000 in hospital beds.

Speaking on the disparity, Chris Thomas, senior research fellow at IPPR, said: "Our research has found that the areas where Westminster austerity hit hardest, including the North East, were disproportionately impacted by Covid-19.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The government now needs to do much more to protect our health and ensure there is health service capacity across the whole country.

"The pandemic’s disruption continues. Life expectancy and cancer outcomes are in reverse, and waiting lists are hitting record highs.

"It’s clear we need more ambition and investment in health, and that this should be focused in the places where need is highest and capacity lowest.”