Salisbury hospital boss answers 6 key Covid-19 questions

As coronavirus cases continue to fall, fewer patients are being admitted into hospital because of Covid and things are starting to slowly improve.

To get a sense of the situation facing staff at the city's hospital, Stacey Hunter, Chief Executive of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, has answered questions on declining coronavirus admissions, the pressure on staff, staffing levels and recoveries.

These are six questions put to Ms Hunter by the Journal alongside her replies.

1. Nationally, there have been reports of the NHS being 'past the peak' of the second wave - does this apply to Salisbury too? What's the current situation?

"We are incredibly pleased that the number of COVID positive patients being treated at the hospital has begun to fall. 

"However, we are not out of the woods yet and there remain many sick people being cared for on our wards and elsewhere across the community, and sadly we continue to experience COVID related deaths.

"Today we are treating more patients than at the peak of the first wave in the spring.

Picture by Monaya Abel

"The fall in cases is testament to the whole community effort during this lockdown. 

"At the hospital we remain prepared for whatever comes next and urge everyone to continue to comply with all the relevant guidance and encourage everyone to get their vaccination whenever it is offered to them."

2. A few weeks back, you wrote in your letter that staff were under 'intense pressure' - is that still the case? 

"Staff across the whole NHS and in partner agencies are all feeling pretty exhausted. 

"And here at Salisbury Hospital it is no different, we remain under pressure. 

"But everyday I am amazed by the resilience and dedication of the entire workforce, when they get knocked they seem to just bounce back. 

"The resilience of colleagues is enabling the hospital to continue offering calm compassionate care to our patients.

"My heartfelt thanks goes out to every member of staff and all those that support them at home and in their personal lives."

3. What are staffing levels like at the moment in regards to isolation / Covid cases?

"We have suffered some significant staff shortages as colleagues have been ill or have had to self-isolate. 

"But right now I am pleased that the levels of sickness are reducing which is helping relieve some of the pressure on staff."

4. Do you think it has been harder to contain the spread of Covid within the hospital this time round? Or have you been dealing mostly with cases from outside?

"COVID-19 is a highly contagious infection and the new variants seem to be harder to contain than the earlier strains.

"Across the hospital we have been operating under strict infection control measures for everyone on site and have had to reduce visiting in order to protect staff and patients.

"We have re-organised many of our wards to increase distancing between beds and have installed screens between beds to help reduce the spread of infection.

"Yet even with these control measures in place and the continued efforts of staff it’s been impossible to prevent all infection.

"We continue to ask all staff, patients and visitors to do everything they can to reduce the risk of infection by keeping their distance, wearing a face mask and regularly washing their hands."

5. Areas such as the gym in the spinal centre and the Day Surgery Unit were being prepared for further bed space should the need arise - can you confirm if those were ever used or if they are currently being used?

"The Spinal gym is ready to be used in case of further escalation. 

"The Day Surgery Unit has been used for general medical patients but we are now returning this space to its primary purpose."

6. Very often we get asked why the number of Covid patients being discharged is not reported - would you be able to let us know what proportion of patients are indeed discharged to continue their recovery at home? I imagine the number is much higher than deaths?

"We have indeed been discharging more patients who have recovered enough to leave hospital than have died from COVID.

"Like every death is a personal tragedy, every discharge is a moment of joy."

Get more Salisbury news.

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.