Unprecedented winter pressures saw A&E at the Royal Victoria Infirmary have its busiest ever day this week.
Monday saw the most people in total - and the most children - through the doors of the Newcastle A&E department on record. According to emergency medicine consultant Mr Sohom Maitra, a total of 569 patients attended the department, with a massive 197 being children.
This breaks the previous record, which was set in October last year. Mr Maitra said that "viral illness presentations to [paediatric A&E]" had been "soaring" for the last six weeks. He said the "vast majority", especially those under age two, were discharged having only needed calpol or ibuprofen. He said there was an issue around "access" to NHS support, and a "huge" desire for face-to-face care.
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He said this had predated media coverage of the rise in Invasive Group A Strep cases. The record-breaking figure only includes attendees at the RVI, and not anyone who went to one of Newcastle's urgent treatment centres (UTCs) at Westgate Road, Molineux Street or Ponteland Road.
Last month, Dame Jackie Daniel - chief executive of the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust which runs the RVI, the Freeman and the UTCs - warned almost 20% more people went to A&E at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary in October compared to the same month before the pandemic.
In a report to the trust's board she also highlighted that there were also significantly more ambulances arriving at the hospital and less free beds for patients than in the months before Covid-19 hit. Dame Jackie's report warned of the "further challenges" the NHS is facing this winter.
She said: "While the November weather may have been unseasonably mild, the start of winter pressures across the NHS has already been very evident."
Regionally, NHS bosses have also spoken of how the health service is working with local councils, healthcare providers and community and voluntary services to mitigate the huge demand for healthcare this winter. This has involved boosting the number of GP appointments, setting up an "enhanced virtual data control centre" which is using evidence to "see where hospitals can benefit from mutual aid, or if ambulances can be diverted to another nearby hospital with more beds".
Dr Neil O'Brien, executive medical director of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board said: "Everyone knows about the pressures health and care services are under, so it's vital we work together to take action to address the challenges we are facing this winter.
"As a system we have prioritised three key actions for this winter to help make a difference. We're continuing to focus resources and work with partners on enhanced clinical triage of 111 and 999 calls so we can direct patients to the right care. Evidence shows this can make the most impact, as well as linking to rapid community services to help and provide support to patients in their own homes.
"We are improving access to GP services with more evening and weekend appointments and supporting treatment of minor illnesses at pharmacies. We are also taking action to improve hospital discharge of patients to ensure they receive the care they need at the right place at the right time."
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