Coronavirus Kent: Medway hospital boss says stay home to avoid second wave of Covid-19 as UK reaches peak
18:28, 30 April 2020
updated: 15:02, 01 May 2020
A hospital boss says the peak number of patients being treated for Covid-19 has passed but warned it is more important than ever to stay at home to stop a second wave of the virus.
At its height in the middle of last week, Medway Maritime Hospital had 125 positive coronavirus patients admitted to its wards.
But this had fallen to 60 by today (Thursday) as chiefs say it appears the number of cases is falling.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson today confirmed the UK had hit the peak but told people it was vital to continue with social distancing and staying at home to prevent the infection rate growing again.
Some 224 people who tested positive and received treatment have now been discharged from the Gillingham hospital.
Meanwhile, the number of "Covid query" patients is dropping as discharge rates rise, Medway NHS Trust chief executive James Devine told KentOnline.
He said: "People adhering to lockdown is making a difference and I would like to thank our community for the support they have shown the hospital, and the NHS, by doing so.
"However we must treat any reduction in the number of positive cases with caution, and I would like to ask the public to please continue to follow the government’s instruction to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives."
More than 100 patients have died at the hospital during the pandemic, according to NHS England figures.
The hospital prepared 53 intensive care beds and capacity to expand further alongside another 200 beds on wards.
But Mr Devine confirmed the hospital has not hit maximum capacity during the pandemic.
"The modelling is pretty much in line with what was predicted and whether we see a second surge, nobody knows right now," he said.
"We're preparing for a balance between a further surge – possibly lower than the initial one – and getting to a degree of business as usual."
"I would like to ask the public to please continue to follow the government’s instruction to stay at home..."
Mr Devine revealed a missed delivery one day last week saw the hospital run low of personal protection equipment (PPE) for doctors and nurses.
"We know it's been a national issue. One day last week the number of gowns was lower than we wanted it to be," he said.
He said the hospital normally has "a few days" worth of stock which is checked three times every day.
Frontline doctors and nurses had raised concerns about PPE falling to low levels and took to social media pleading for local firms to help supply the hospital.
Responding to that, Mr Devine said the hospital had coped with supplying PPE throughout the crisis well and frequently had "good supplies" apart from the one day last week.
"What staff might see might not be relative to what our procurement team see.
"PPE management and leadership of the entire Covid response has been very good.
"We've worked with other Kent trusts and they've helped us and we've helped them – as it should be.
"The fact we've been able to reassure staff in respect of the national picture has been very good.
"We only see a snapshot of what's happening nationally and we've had excellent support from the regional team. Everything we've asked for has been received in good time."
Mr Devine could not praise staff highly enough for their commitment.
"In the snow, we know staff walk from miles away to do their job.
"But what we've been in awe of is the personal sacrifice people have been making – isolating away from family so they can come to work.
"We can be very proud of how we coped."
Hospitals remain open for non-Covid care and Mr Devine reminded patients the NHS is still there for them.
He said: "You can contact your GP practice online, by an app or by phone, and the NHS 111 online service is available for urgent medial issues.
"If you are told you need to go to the hospital, you must go to the hospital. And you should continue to attend your appointments, unless you have been told not to attend.”
Testing at the hospital – in a fixed and drive-thru centre – has seen about 50 to 60 people being tested per day with more than 500 frontline workers receiving one at Medway hospital.
The hospital's drive-thru tests are available for non-hospital staff, council and social care workers and is not on an appointment basis.
But he said they were looking at introducing a booking system should the centre start reaching capacity.
Government advice for testing says workers should speak with their employer first.
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