Hospital Covid cases increase by nearly 30 per cent at NGH and KGH between Christmas and New Year

The number of patients being treated for coronavirus at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital increased by nearly 30 per cent between Christmas and New Year, new figures have revealed.

January 1's figure of 272 patients being treated for coronavirus at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital was an increase of 58 — or 27.7 per cent — from December 25.

The figures were announced at the same time that it was revealed that Prime Minister Boris Johnson would be addressing the nation this evening on television at 8pm. The PM has been under growing pressure to delay the return to school for thousands of youngsters and take further steps to toughen restrictions to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

Northamptonshire was only escalated into Tier Three under the Government's Winter Plan on Boxing Day and then into Tier Four on New Year's Eve.

Health officials have warned for weeks that surges in the number of positive tests in the county would lead to proportionate rises in the number of hospital admissions within a few weeks and, ultimately, deaths.

Latest Public Health England figures published on Sunday revealed 3,125 positive tests in Northamptonshire in the week to January 2 — nearly double the number from two weeks earlier.

Hospital chiefs say the hospitals' 1,100-plus beds are full with Covid and non-Covid patients and are appealing for patients to think before travelling A&E departments at Northampton and Kettering.

Speaking on behalf of both hospitals, NGH chief executive Deborah Needham said: “We are experiencing one of our busiest times at the moment and seeing an increase in people needing to come to our A&E departments with Covid symptoms.

"We expect that as winter progresses and with the new Covid variant these pressures are likely to remain for the next few months.

"We are asking for help from relatives to be ready to collect patients from the hospital as soon as they are ready to go home so we can use their bed to treat another patient.

"Also, for people to choose the right service for their needs to ensure our A&E is able to help those with life-threatening or serious illnesses or injuries.

"If you have an urgent medical concern and you are not sure where to go, call or click NHS 111 where you can get help, visit your local pharmacy or the urgent care centre in Corby."

Two more deaths among coronavirus patients were today confirmed by NHS England in the county, both at Kettering General Hospital.

The death toll at KGH now stands at 325 with another 470 at NGH, although that number is expected to rise sharply in the next few days as more registrations from the holiday weekend are processed.

These figures are taken from NHS England's daily list which includes those who died and who had a positive test within the previous 28 days or had the virus mentioned on a death certificate."

Care homes in the county have seen a further 206 coronavirus-linked deaths since April, according to the Care Quality Commission.