Number of Doncaster hospital coronavirus patients drops slightly again

In its weekly update on Doncaster’s Covid-19 situation, Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust said it was caring for 32 people – down on last week’s figure of 33.

A spokesman said: “At the time of writing, our hospitals are caring for 32 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.

"This is 14 at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, 15 at Bassetlaw Hospital (Worksop) and just three at Montagu Hospital (Mexborough). The age range is between 25 and 93, and, four of these require critical care and we wish them the very best.

“These numbers represent fantastic progress, and are some of the lowest we have seen since October 2020 - long may this trend continue.

“As we saw in the latter part of 2020, we know how quickly things can change, so please keep doing what you're doing - observe hands, face and space and keep supporting us in keeping local transmission low. If we do that, we will get back to normality.”

It comes as the Trust announced a giant rainbow sculpture to honour Doncaster’s 800 plus coronavirus victims.

The 18ft x 9ft memorial will be unveiled in the town centre later this year and will be made up of 5,000 coloured hearts with messages to loved ones.

You can get involved by donating a coloured heart which will be fixed to the monument making up the colours of the rainbow. Each will also bear a brief hand-crafted dedication to friends, family and loved ones, either in recognition of their efforts throughout the 12-month period – all essential workers, not just the NHS - or instead in loving memory of someone sadly taken before their time.

Created by the British Ironworks Centre, the memorial will have space for 5,000 hearts. Each ‘Heart’ can be created with a donation of £20, with all proceeds from the project to be directly reinvested in patient care and treatment at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals.

To support the campaign and dedicate a heart to a keyworker or a loved one who is no longer with us, head to: https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/hearts-for-doncaster/