Torbay Hospital "safe" claim

Trust reassures public after covid deaths

Managers at Torbay Hospital are reassuring patients it is safe to visit following a relatively high number of deaths of patients with covid-19 in the second wave of the pandemic.

Figures show Torbay has the highest infection rate for the virus in Devon and a high proportion of elderly and frail residents, who are more at risk of serious complications from the illness.

The latest data show 16 deaths with covid-19 at the hospital in Torquay since the start of October. In the same period between 1 October and 7 November, there were 12 deaths with covid-19 at Plymouth, four in Exeter and two in North Devon.

The hospital said most of its patients with covid-19 recovered well, but the area had a higher proportion of frail and elderly people, many with pre-existing conditions.

It said in a statement there had been a “steady but significant increase” in the number of in-patients testing positive for the virus, and the hospital was following its plans to continue to provide “safe and high quality care”.

Last week the NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens, explaining the pressure on health services ahead of the lockdown, said there were more patients with the virus in Torbay Hospital than at the height of the first wave.

Figures published on Sunday showed that Torbay had the highest rate of infection in Devon, with more than 200 cases per 100,000 population. The latest NHS figures show a rising number of patients with covid-19 with in hospitals across the area, in line with increases nationwide.

On 3 November, there were 38 in-patients with covid-19 at Torbay Hospital, 64 in Plymouth, 38 in Exeter and 16 in North Devon.

The latest test data on Sunday showed 290 new cases in Torbay in the previous seven days, equal to a rate of 212.8 per 100,000 population. 

Over the same period there were 392 cases in Plymouth, a rate of 149.6 per 100,000, and 770 cases in the rest of Devon covered by Devon County Council, which had a rate of 96 per 100,000.  The average seven-day infection rate in England on Sunday was 243.2 per 100,000 population.

The total deaths in Devon hospital of patients with a positive test for covid-19 between March and 7 November were 93 at Plymouth, 55 at Torbay, 50 at Exeter and 25 in North Devon.

Estimates put the proportion of Torbay residents aged 65 and over at more than a quarter (26.4 per cent), much higher than the UK average of 18.5 per cent.

A spokesperson for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Torbay Hospital and community hospitals in the area, said: “We, along with all other NHS Trusts, have robust plans in place to maintain essential NHS services and the predicted increase in the numbers of admissions of patients with Covid-19 to our hospitals – which we are now starting to see. 

“The majority of people who have become acutely unwell with covid-19 that we provide care for recover well and are able to return home. The demographics of our area mean that we care for a higher proportion of frail and elderly residents, many with pre-existing conditions.

“In recent weeks we have seen a steady but significant increase in the number of Covid positive inpatients, so we are following our internal escalation plans so that we can continue to provide safe and high quality care for local people. 

“The dedication and professionalism of our staff has been exemplary and they are working incredibly hard during this challenging time. Our hospitals continue to be safe for our patients and we ask that they attend their appointments.  However, we do need your help – help us to help you – by please using our services wisely and by always adhering to the national ‘hands, face, space’ guidance.”  

The hospital’s emergency department was deep-cleaned twice and extensive testing of staff was carried out after two workers showed coronavirus symptoms and five others tested positive in September. The hospital said it was confident no patient had caught the virus from staff and the trust’s medical director Ian Currie reassured patients that the unit was safe to visit.

In the latest figures for all recorded deaths, the Office for National Statistics reported 14 deaths in Devon in the week ending October 23, the highest since May. Eight of those were in Torbay, with five in hospital and three in care homes.