Several major hospitals began cancelling routine surgery last night as they struggled to cope with rising admissions for Covid-19.
NHS trusts in London, Essex and Kent said they were under pressure, with some forced to divert ambulances and cancel non-urgent surgery to free up beds.
Thousands of patients are expected to be affected. Yesterday a record 35,383 new coronavirus cases were reported in the UK, with the number of patients in hospital with the infection at its highest since mid-April.
There have been 160,878 new infections over the past seven days – up 41 per cent on the previous week.
However, yesterday s dramatic leap was partly due to an IT glitch leading to a delay in reporting 11,000 positive tests in Wales. London is currently the worst-hit region, followed by the South East.
Whipps Cross Hospital. Leytonstone. (14/1/2013) EL74569 2. A Waltham Forest man was found dead in his home just three days after being discharged from Whipps Cross A&E with a prescription for painkillers and an anti-ulcer medication. East London coroner Nadia Persaud concluded Gavin Shwe, 39, died of “natural causes”. He was found on September 5 last year but may have died as early as September 2. At the inquest on November 6, pathologist Dr Rowena Smith explained he suffered an “aortic dissection”, meaning his aorta tore and blood pooled around his heart and stopped it beating. Dr Smith speculated this tearing may have already begun when Gavin attended Whipps Cross A&E on September 2, having complained of severe pain in his chest, stomach and neck.
An elderly man showed his appreciation to the NHS for helping elongate his twin sister’s life after she contracted Covid-19, by walking over 1,000 miles. Peter Murray, 86, who is retired and living in Walthamstow, began his fundraising campaign to support Whipps Cross Hospital after his twin sister received life changing care there. His sister Madge suffered from two heart attacks five years ago, and returned to Whipps Cross in February this year after facing issues with her chest. It was there where she contracted Covid-19 and was told she would not survive, but in April she was released from hospital after recovering from the virus, before shortly passing away.