On Sunday 8 January 2023 (reports latest available data): OUR NHS IS IN CRISIS. COVID INFECTIONS, HOSPITALISATIONS & DEATHS ARE VERY HIGH AGAIN. THE FEARED TWINDEMIC OF COVID & FLU IS HERE. VACCINATION CENTRES HAVE CLOSED BECAUSE THEY WEREN’T BEING USED AND GP VACCINATIONS WEREN’T BEING BOOKED. The NHS is in a perilous state. Unvaccinated people are taking up health and care services unnecessarily. It remains to be seen whether or not the situation in China with Covid will have global consequences. The new Covid sub-variant XBB.1.5 causing concern in the US is also in the UK.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests SWF had 800* Covid cases w/e 8 December. 2.2m people in the UK have long Covid; 80+ in the SWF & Dengie area. If you may have long-Covid see your GP for a diagnosis & referral to a local recovery service.
Winter pressures are with us. Covid infections are rising again; in the week up to Christmas hospitalisations with flu increased by two thirds and flu patients in intensive care skyrocketed up 70%; 111 service has near record demand; staff sickness absences are up a fifth & Covid absences are up one third. Record numbers of staff are leaving the NHS; some ambulance staff not in East of England will strike on 11 & 23 January. Some nurses will strike on 18 & 19 January; the only ones known in Essex will be at Colchester General Hospital which is planning to mitigate this as far as possible. The NHS Boss says The challenges faced by today’s NHS are greater than at the height of the pandemic. The best you can do to protect yourself is GET VACCINATED FOR COVID & FLU.
NHS England says: 18% more people attending A&E than last winter; English hospital Covid patients nearly doubled in last few weeks; 3,750 flu patients in hospital, up from 520 last month; 13,000 hospital beds blocked by patients fit to discharge. 100,101 hospital beds are available (up from 90,621 last year).
On 18 December 2022 in England only: 64.1% (14,939,946 out of 23,310,486) of people over 50 had had their autumn Covid booster; and only 78.4% of 65+ yr olds, 46.3% of under 65s with clinical risk, 38.8% of 50-64 yr olds & 33.2% of pregnant women had had their flu jab.
Cases of Scarlet Fever and Strep A are increasing. Most people don’t get extremely sick but they can be a serious illness, particularly for young children. Both are treated with antibiotics; there isn’t a vaccine. As always, you know your children best; if your child is seriously ill speak to your doctor; if they are unwell ask your pharmacist for advice; out of hours ring 111. Latest information: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/05/group-a-strep-what-you-need-to-know/ .
Essex County Council has launched its Warm Bank initiative; places where people can go during the day to stay warm. SWF Library provides this when open.
The Dashboard says in w/e 31 December in England there were 873 (p/w 508) Covid deaths and in w/e 2 January 6,967 (p/w 7,158) patients admitted to hospital. Hospitalisations and deaths lag behind infections. The *ONS data estimates 2,800,000 (1 in 20) people in England had Covid in w/e 28 December (p/w 1,243,500 = 1 in 45). Taking the ONS estimate and SWF’s population as 16,000 that means there were 800 (p/w 355) SWF residents with Covid in w/e 28 December.
To AVOID CATCHING & SPREADING Covid the Government says: TAKE EXTRA CARE, IF UNWELL AVOID VULNERABLE FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES & RELATIVES, GET VACCINATED; ventilate indoor meetings; meet outdoors; wear face coverings in crowded enclosed spaces. If you get Covid stay home if you can and avoid contact with other people. LFD (Lateral Flow Device) Covid test kits are available from some pharmacies and online providers. Most deaths with Covid in Essex and England are of people not fully vaccinated.
Covid Vaccination Centres in Essex are closed because they weren’t being used. 1st, 2nd , 3rd (where appropriate) & previous booster Covid vaccinations, as well as the 2022 Autumn Boosters remain available. Information about vaccinations and how to get them is at: https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/health/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-vaccinations/ . If you can’t go online phone 119 about Covid. Covid vaccinations can still be booked with many pharmacies.
Flu vaccinations aren’t available at Covid vaccination centres. Those eligible for free flu jabs had GP invitations but due to lack of take up of these invitations no GP vaccination sessions are planned at present. NHS flu jabs can be booked with pharmacies offering this service and pharmacies can answer queries about flu and flu jabs. Flu infections and hospitalisations are much higher than in normal years.
GPs are under severe pressure. Some hospitals and ambulance services, including ours, have declared critical incidents in recent days. Hospitals are postponing surgery & appointments & say don’t attend A&E unless life is threatened, or you’re seriously injured. Waits to get into A&E from ambulances and for diagnosis and treatment in A&E continue to lengthen.
Do Ring 999 for life-threatening emergencies. For non-life threatening situations Ring 111 for all out of hours services and to book other A&E attendances. To contact Greenwood Surgery use e-consultations (patchs & Systemonline) for all clinical matters; full contact guidance and details are at: https://greenwoodsurgery.com/contact-us/ . Contact details for Kingsway Surgery are at https://www.kingswaysurgerysouthwoodhamferrers.nhs.uk/ . For queries about hospital appointments for which you’ve been referred ring the Central Referral Service on 0300 123 0771 or Broomfield Hospital Appointments on 01245 513900; GP Practices can’t provide hospital appointment details. SWF Health & Social Care Group provides health & social care information and signposting to people, especially those at risk, isolating, housebound, and without local support. Information is on our website https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/ . Contact us on swfhealthsocial@outlook.com or leave a voicemail on 01245 322079 which is monitored daily.
SWF Health & Social Care Group 