Quizzes & Puzzles3 mins ago
Not Really Prepared.
According to the health department, every NHS hospital as got to set up a coronavirus pod, beds set aside just in case. When the health minister was asked if we are prepared for such an out break, his answer was we already have 500 beds set aside ready. Does he really think that's enough considering how fast this spreads, regardless of the fact that we cannot cope with normal numbers of winter flue. Who they kidding.
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I think we have to balance to cost of keeping prepared beds, against the likelihood of them actually being needed.
I am sure that if an epidemic did start, the number of available beds would rise accordingly - this current measure is more in the nature of a first base, rather than the entire set-up.
I am sure that if an epidemic did start, the number of available beds would rise accordingly - this current measure is more in the nature of a first base, rather than the entire set-up.
teacake - // andy ,how can they keep prepared beds, when you already have people waiting for a bed (now) //
I don't think they are 'prepared beds' as in the literal sense - that five hundred beds are waiting with their covers turned down, empty, in case of an epidemic.
It's more likely that they are the number of beds that can be specifically re-allocated in the event of need - and as such, they do not affect the current allocation of beds.
I don't think they are 'prepared beds' as in the literal sense - that five hundred beds are waiting with their covers turned down, empty, in case of an epidemic.
It's more likely that they are the number of beds that can be specifically re-allocated in the event of need - and as such, they do not affect the current allocation of beds.
Having been a bed manager in a large hospital one of the things that is part of the role is major incident planning. At the start of every day not only did I ha d to work out who could be admitted but what beds could be freed up in a crisis. Could some patients go home with extra community support. Could those on chemo for terminal conditions be sped up or sent home early. Were there any beds in the private patients unit, etc. It's amazing how in an emergency just how much space can be created if needed.
Winter pressures is a different thing altogether and usually falls to the medical wards, with non urgent surgery being postponed.
The main issue would be staffing as extra beds would be opened on mothballed wards.
Winter pressures is a different thing altogether and usually falls to the medical wards, with non urgent surgery being postponed.
The main issue would be staffing as extra beds would be opened on mothballed wards.
I was about to say the same, beds don’t mean beds but the staff to staff the beds....whats in the budgets for bank staff, how many bank staff would be available as well as who could be discharged and what admissions could be postponed...there is also the specialist equipment hire to consider, who has got it and how much is available, the actual base and mattress is the least of the problem
I understand all the above comments, I just don't see, or believe we seem to be doing enough with all the warning signs we are getting. I may be very wrong and things are being prepared. If you take the size of China and the way it as spread, and may be worse than we are told, and the size of the UK, its possible that it could spread here from north to south within hours not weeks. Some say that beds can be made available in an emergency, again how come we have people waiting on trollies now for a bed, and some ambulances are taking up 45 mins to reach an heart attack victim, shortage of ambulance staff and transport. Hospital staff already have given over their own private living quarters for this virus. I don't any of this as prepared.
