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//part of "the truth" is that treatment has changed (where is PP? he posted about this recently) As I recall, less people are being intubated as not only does it not help it may make things worse. More are being given remdesivir and/or dexamethazone and/or oxygen in less invasive forms which don't require maintained sedation and therefore don't require ITU.//
So how does that influence the number of people in hospital with Covid (whether in ICUs or not)? Those numbers are currently half the peak in April.
//I dont recall the govt ever saying that itu was overwhelmed just that on the current trajectory it would be?//
//As far as I understood it, the fear was about what will happen in a few weeks' time, based on current trends.//
I’m not arguing about the current trajectory or predictions. I’m trying to find out how the doctor in Liverpool (who suggested the service was “hanging by a thread”) and Prof Heneghan (“Everything is looking at normal levels and free bed capacity is still significant, even in high dependency units and intensive care,…”) can both be correct.
// Liverpool University Hospital has had to send patients to other hospitals.They are definitely at capacity.//
Yes but according to Prof Heneghan the NHS as a whole isn’t. Part of their job is (or should be) to seek out resources in other areas when one area is full. It’s what businesses have to do.
//I feel failed, but I understand the pressure they are all under.//
But they’re not!! As I’ve explained in the other post, bed occupancy dropped by about 17,000 (around 18%) between Jan-Mar and Apr-Jun and GPs’ surgeries are providing very little proper care (as you – and many others including me - have found out).
// then go out into the world and meet the people on the front line, the doctors the nurses, the medical and nursing support staff , you must know someone in that theatre of health.//
I do know someone – my cousin is the senior nursing director (aka “Matron”) in a large West Country hospital. Many of her wards are closed, almost all elective surgery has been cancelled – and they have very few Covid patients. My own local hospital is in a similar position.
I’m not confused by the recommendations. I’m confused by the totally different conclusions that are being drawn from the same data. The blood-curdling scenario scientists presented to Ministers last week prompted them to close the country down yet again. That scenario quite frankly was absurd, is already beginning to unravel and lacks any credibility. If the “4,000 deaths per day” was to be realistic there should already be over 1,000. And there are not.
I can only speak for my area and the area my cousin works in with any confidence (though I doubt they are in any way untypical of many others). It is quite clear that in those areas the NHS has abandoned any pretence of providing a comprehensive service and there is no justification for that.
//There are no beds empty at the hospital MrsZ works in. I can 100% state that as a copper bottom, cast iron FACT.//
Well hers must be somewhat unique, Zacs. As I explained, there were 17,000 fewer patients in hospital in Q1 20/21 than there were in Q4 19/20. This was from a combination of reduced availability (which may explain ward closures) and fewer admissions. I eagerly await the next quarter’s numbers but I doubt those beds will suddenly be filled. So unless those beds were simply thrown away they must be lying idle somewhere.