'Huge pressure' from rising Covid levels sees more operating theatres closed at hospitals in Wakefield, Pontefract and Dewsbury

More operating theatres at Pontefract, Dewsbury and Pinderfields hospitals have had to close due "huge pressure" brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, an MP has said.

More wards are also being turned into Covid wards and other staff are being transferred to look after "very ill" Covid-19 patients, Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford MP Yvette Cooper said in a Facebook update.

She wrote: "Difficult news from Pinderfields last night. They now have 240 Covid patients - up from 180 at the beginning of the week and they are expecting the numbers to keep rising.

"That’s much higher than the peak of the first wave in April when they had 170 Covid patients.

"NHS staff are now under huge pressure and I want to thank them for the incredible job they are doing - especially after what has already been a tough year.

"In order to cope, Mid Yorkshire Trust are having to turn more wards into Covid wards and move more anaesthetists, nurses & other staff in to support very ill Covid patients."

Last month, the Trust confirmed they had postponed some non-emergency surgery and closed three operating theatres as a result of rising patient numbers.

Ms Cooper said she had been told some operating theatres at Pontefract, Dewsbury and Pinderfields had had to close as a result.

She added: "Mid Yorkshire Trust tell me that local cancer and urgent surgery is still going ahead.

"Outpatients and diagnostic appointments are still happening too and the Urgent Treatment Centre, A&E, GP and maternity services are all open as normal.

"But many non-urgent operations have now been cancelled."

Ms Cooper said she had been contacted by someone whose cancer surgery at Leeds hospital had been delayed due to the situation in the city.

She added: "Staff are very worried about rising cases and about the impact on care for other patients across the NHS too.

"Please take Covid seriously. I know that everyone is tired of things after a really difficult year, and it would have been far better if it hadn’t reached this point, but we all need to do our bit to support our NHS right now.

"We need our NHS to be there for all of us and our families whenever we need it and that means preventing Covid escalating out of control.

"Once again NHS and care staff are on the frontline in dealing with Covid.

"Time to support them and to thank them for the incredible work they do."