More than 80 Covid patients in region's hospitals but numbers significantly down
Hospital trusts in the Black Country and Staffordshire were caring for 81 coronavirus patients in hospital as latest figures show the numbers continue to fall.
NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospitals for Covid-19 by 8am on April 20, was down from 111 on the same day the previous week.
A total of 33 coronavirus patients were being cared for at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust as of last Tuesday – down from 44 the previous week.
The number of beds occupied by Covid-positive patients has decreased by 54 per cent in the last four weeks.
A total of 20 coronavirus patients were being cared for Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, as of April 20 – down from 22 the previous week.
The number of beds occupied by people who tested positive for coronavirus at the trust decreased by 38 per cent in the last four weeks.
At the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, 18 coronavirus patients were being cared for last week – down from 20 on the same day the previous week.
The number of beds at the Walsall trust occupied by Covid patients decreased by 50 per cent in the last four weeks.
Six Covid patients were being cared for at the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust as of 8am on April 20 – down from 22 on the same day the previous week.
While the number of beds at UHNM occupied by people who tested positive for coronavirus has decreased by 90 per cent in the last four weeks.
Fluctuate
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust was caring for four Covid patients as of last week – up three on the same day the previous week. But the number of beds occupied at the trust by people who had tested positive for coronavirus decreased by 84 per cent in the last four weeks.
The figures also show that in the week to April 18, 22 new Covid patients were admitted to the Sandwell and West Birmingham trust; 12 to the Dudley trust; nine to the Walsall trust; six to the Wolverhampton trust; and four to UHNM.
John Oxtoby, medical director at UHNM, said: “As the number of cases of people testing positive for Covid-19 continues to reduce in the local community, the number of patients UHNM is treating has also reduced.
"These numbers will continue to fluctuate but this is a positive step forward and evidence that together with the vaccination roll out, the lockdown measures and guidance around hands, face and space and fresh air are working.
“It also shows that our local community are really playing their part in helping to limit the spread of infection by following the lockdown guidance.”
Across England there were 1,649 people in hospital with Covid as of April 20, with 273 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.
The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has decreased by 61 per cent in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has decreased by 58 per cent.
