How Covid cases are dropping across Doncaster hospitals - but town reported to have 'highest rate of new cases in Yorkshire'

Although Doncaster has been reported the highest rate of new coronavirus cases in Yorkshire, with 37.2 new cases per 100,000 people identified from May 23 to June 6, the NHS see has seen the cases at its venues across the borough plunge.

A month ago, widower Clive Mitchell was concerned about the virus on Hawthorn rehabilitation ward at Tickhill Road Hospital in Balby, after the death of his wife, Anne, wth Covid after she had been a patient there. He believed she had caught the virus there while recovering after treatment at Doncaster Royal Infirmary

Today, the cases have plunged at the trust which runs Tickhill Road hospital, and officials there stress it is open for business.

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), which cares for people with mental health and physical health needs on its inpatient wards like Hawthorn, has seen its number of patients with Covid-19 in Doncaster fall to just one as of Tuesday.

The majority of people with coronavirus who need inpatient care receive treatment at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. But RDaSH staff in Doncaster have also been caring for patients with mental health and rehabilitation needs who have the virus.

Since March 29, RDasH staff in Doncaster have cared for 53 inpatients with covid-19.

Nette Carder, interim chief operating officer for RDaSH, said: “It is good news to see the number of inpatients we are caring for with coronavirus reducing. I also want to take this opportunity to thank our excellent staff who have worked tirelessly during this pandemic to care for our patients.

“However, I encourage Doncaster residents to adhere to government guidelines to allow the cases of Coronavirus to continue to fall. Please stay alert, maintain social distancing, follow all advice and stay safe.

“I also want to stress that RDaSH is open for business and we have a range of services for people to access for help and support, including our Improving Access to Psychological Services (IAPT). Our Doncaster IAPT team is available to support residents who are feeling stressed, anxious or down. Any readers who feel they need this type of support should call us on 01302 565556. While anyone who feels they are in a mental health crisis should contact us on 01302 566999.”

The Trust runs a range of other services including those for local residents with learning disabilities and people in need of support for drug and alcohol addictions as well as running a number of services in Rotherham and North Lincolnshire.

Most Covid patients have been cared for by Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

A spokesman said the hospital, at Intake, had so far cared for 647 patients with Covid, discharged 374.

But figures yesterday revealed 200 patients had died there

A spokesman added: “Three are currently in intensive care and 70 positive patients are with us, however, this includes those who are receiving care for something else, but also happen to be Covid-19 positive.”

“Inpatient and intensive care numbers are the lowest we’ve seen since mid-March - long may it continue.”

It is still not known when things will be back to normal.

Hospital bosses say they are reviewing their position daily and convening weekly meetings about what business as usual will look like.

Officials may continue with virtual cosultations over the internet in the future, havig already carried out around 25,000 such consultation.

The figures at the hospitals come as the Government continues to bring in measures to ease lockdown.

Non essential shops in Doncaster were told they could open for the first time from Monday, and this week the Yorkshire Wildlife Park was told it could re-open in some form from this week.

Bosses at the park said hope to welcome back visitors as soon as ‘safe and practical’.

And Boris Johnson has announced single households can now buddy up with others to form a “support bubble” to ease isolation in the latest lifting of lockdown measures, from Saturday.

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