Dorset is now gripped with coronavirus and people are being urged to do all they can to help relieve pressure on our hospitals which are close to being overwhelmed . There have now been more than 20,000 cases of Covid-19 across the whole of Dorset since the start of the pandemic. The amount of cases in the Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) areas is rising sharply each day, with the BCP area recording more cases in its area. That grim tally of 20,000 cases was passed at the weekend when it was also revealed the amount of people who had died with Covid in Dorset s hospitals had sadly risen.
Dr Tristan Richardson, a consultant endocrinologist told the Echo: This is so frightening. We are already under incredible pressure. We believe between 450-600 beds could be needed. Not only are more Covid cases coming in, we are silting up because we can’t get patients out again. Today we have 100 medically fit mainly elderly patients in Bournemouth who don’t need a hospital bed but we cannot get them back to their care or nursing home and that is adding to the pressure. Around 90 per cent of Covid patients are being dealt with on ordinary wards, not in emergency or critical care departments.
The three new sites are the Sturminster Newton Medical Centre, The Digby Hall and the Whitecliff Surgery. Sites have been developed by primary care networks (groups of local GP practices) who have worked together to develop detailed plans to deliver Covid-19 vaccinations in their wider community locations. Primary care networks have been working round the clock to rapidly to redesign their sites and put in place safe processes to deliver vaccines. Dr Simone Yule, a GP and Clinical Director for the Blackmore Vale partnership, said “I am delighted and relieved that we can start the new year with such good news for people in north Dorset and am delighted that we can begin to offer those who are most at risk their vaccination to protect against Covid-19.
Craig Oakes, President of Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, said: Personally, I was quite optimistic we might slip through the net, bearing in mind cases are still some of the lowest in the country down here but unfortunately not. “I know the announcement won’t come as a huge surprise to businesses, but they will be disappointed they cannot operate over New Year’s Eve. “I feel that this last-minute approach where restaurants and pubs were gearing up to do New Year’s Eve and then pulling the rug from under them at the last minute is unfair and upsetting.