We are also looking to create extra capacity for treatments with longer days, more weekend working and by working with the private sector and other partners where we can.
Bury St Edmunds West Suffolk Hospital, which is managed by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT), has seen its year-long waiting list rise from 15 patients just before the pandemic to 2,699 in January of this year.
The trust had 20,413 patients awaiting treatment overall at the start of the year, the 90th highest figure in the country.
Dr Stephen Dunn, chief executive of WSFT, said it would take some time for waiting times to fall to pre-pandemic levels.
Dozens of people are believed to have contracted Covid-19 in hospital at Dorset County Hospital Trust, figures suggest. The British Medical Association said the NHS was already overstretched before the pandemic and warned bed capacity and staffing must be increased to control the spread of the virus in hospitals. Analysis of NHS England data shows that, between August 1 and March 21, 64 people were thought to have been infected with Covid-19 at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, while being treated in hospital for other conditions. The highest number of such transmissions was recorded in January alone, when 51 people were believed to have been infected in hospital.
This is below the 15 per cent average for all NHS acute trusts across the South East. Across England, 40,670 people are thought to have been infected with Covid-19 in hospital since August – 15 per cent of all inpatients with the disease. Rob Harwood, chairman of the British Medical Association s consultants committee, said: The NHS went into the current pandemic underfunded, understaffed and overstretched, and the knock-on effects – such as limited bed capacity – has unfortunately meant that controlling the spread of Covid-19 within hospitals has been more difficult than necessary. For some time now, the BMA has been calling for the Government to urgently address issues that would go far in ensuring the hospital environment is as safe as possible.
By Lewis Berrill @LewisBerrill Chief reporter - east London and west Essex
Between August 1 and March 21, 79 people were thought to have been infected with Covid-19 at The Princess Alexandra Hospital. Photo: Radar Dozens of people are believed to have contracted Covid-19 in hospital at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, figures suggest. The British Medical Association said the NHS was already overstretched before the pandemic and warned bed capacity and staffing must be increased to control the spread of the virus in hospitals. Analysis of NHS England data shows that, between August 1 and March 21, 79 people were thought to have been infected with Covid-19 at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, while being treated in hospital for other conditions.
Covid in hospitals. Stock image MORE than 450 people are believed to have contracted Covid-19 in hospital at Frimley Health Trust, figures suggest. The British Medical Association said the NHS was already overstretched before the pandemic and warned bed capacity and staffing must be increased to control the spread of the virus in hospitals. Analysis of NHS England data shows that, between August 1 and March 21, 467 people were thought to have been infected with Covid-19 at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, while being treated in hospital for other conditions. The highest number of such transmissions was recorded in December alone, when 177 people were believed to have been infected in hospital.