Health services in Wakefield under 'significant pressure' as Covid cases rise

Anna Hartley, Director of Public Health for the Wakefield district, is urging people to play their part in helping lower the rate of cases by abiding by lockdown rules and self-isolating when necessary.

There have been a total of 9,839 cases of the virus in the district to date, up from 8,457 at the start of the month.

More than 5,200 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Wakefield in October.

And the number of people receiving hospital treatment for the virus has risen to 200, higher than the previous peak of 170 in April.

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury Hospitals, earlier confirmed they had been forced to close more operating theatres to free up staff to care for coronavirus patients.

Anna Hartley, Director of Public Health for the Wakefield district, said: “Our health system is now under significant pressure and hospital admissions are continuing to increase, as well the number of cases in the district.

“We need to act now to break that cycle and we can only do that by working together. One of the most important actions people must take is to self-isolate if they have tested positive, have been confirmed as a contact of someone who has tested positive or are in the same household.

"You must also isolate if you have symptoms and are awaiting a test or results. If you do this, you will save lives.”

According to the latest NHS data, the rate of cases in the district currently sits at 485.5 per 100,000, more than double the national average of 221.5 per 100,000.

A local testing offer for COVID-19 has opened in Wakefield, to work alongside and to enhance the national programme.

Residents in the district who suspect they have symptoms of the virus can now access tests via a home delivery service but people are urged to try the national system first.

Those without symptoms should not be seeking a test unless they have been advised to do so by a health professional, Public Health England or the Council’s public health teams – it could take a test away from someone who really needs it.

The local testing service is available from Monday to Friday and bookings for appointments can be made at www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 01924 224497. Or email the person’s name and contact details to [email protected] so the booking team can get in touch.

Anyone displaying coronavirus symptoms is urged to get a test by accessing local testing or by visiting nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119.