Leeds hospital cancels operations as Covid patient numbers jump 30%

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In a message to staff on Monday, shared with The Independent, deputy chief medical officer for the Leeds trust, David Berridge said: “Over the weekend and continuing today, our hospitals are under significant pressure due to the steep rise in patients testing positive for Covid-19.” He said there were 239 patients with the virus in hospital on Monday with 25 in critical care. Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, which runs St James’s Hospital and the Leeds General Infirmary, is only the latest hospital to announced closures, with Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust and Rotherham NHS Trust confirming cancellations on Monday. According to the latest daily data on coronavirus infections, the northeast and Yorkshire NHS region had 1,962 patients in hospital with Covid-19 on Monday, an increase of 47 per cent on a week earlier. In his message to staff Mr Berridge added: “Our currently overall bed occupancy is far greater than in the first wave so there is very significant pressure on our inpatient capacity.” He said the trust was working to open up extra beds for Covid-19 patients but added: “Unfortunately, as a result, we have had to cancel some operations and expect this to continue throughout the week due to pressures on beds in all area of our hospitals.” He also warned that the city was likely to have to move into the higher tier three level for Covid-19, with discussions ongoing between the government and local council.