Covid-19 cases 'stabilising' say Doncaster hospital chiefs as death toll nears 320

In its weekly update, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, said that there were currently 188 Covid-19 patients receiving care at its three area hospitals, a reduction on last week when the figure nudged over 200.

A statement said: “Over the last week we have seen numbers of Covid-positive patients stabilise at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu Hospital.

"However, we continue to see a steady increase at Bassetlaw Hospital.

"While challenging, we do have the capacity at both sites to provide the care that the patients need, and, at the time of writing, we currently have 188 Covid-19 patients receiving care, 15 of which are receiving intensive care.

“Everyone working across health and care - from GP practices, community services, mental health services, social care services and hospitals - have been incredible in once again responding to this latest surge in demand.

“The work we did in preparation for this second wave means we are also going to try and continue to provide as much planned care as we can where it is safe and appropriate to do so.

"A key factor in this will be if we continue to work together as a community to limit the spread of this virus and as a result reduce the number of patients who need hospital care as a result of Covid-19. The less cases we have, the more planned care we can provide.

“We would like to thank the public for their continued support and for following the advice of limiting your contact with other people outside your household, washing your hands regularly and wearing a face covering.

"It really does make a difference in terms of the spread of COVID and the demand it places on our staff and health services. Finally we are asking people who are due to have an appointment or operation to come along as planned unless we contact you.”

There are 137 patients at Doncaster, 26 at Bassetlaw and 25 at Montagu.

The spokesman added: “We are discharging more than 10 each day and admitting a similar, but sometimes smaller, amount - long may it continue.”

There have been 319 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic.