Good evening

News that some of our hospitals will keep entire wards free for Covid patients as well as increasing the overall number of intensive care beds available should not really come as any great surprise.

After all, if we have learned one thing from the past 18 months, it is that Covid is a persistent devil.

There have been several times when we thought we might be out of the water ... only to land firmly back in there with a mighty splash.

Even now, when the majority of the population has been double vaccinated, we are still seeing 30,000 cases a day and around 100 deaths a day in our hospitals of people who have tested positive for the virus.

So, while it may be an uncomfortable thought, it is sensible of hospitals to plan ahead.

For more than a year, elective surgery has been delayed or cancelled because intensive care beds were not available if they were needed following those operations.

If we want to get more people through surgery and start to clear those huge waiting lists, then it is right to plan for the worst but hope for the best.

Until next time, take care,

Gillian

Drop me a line at gillian.parkinson@jpimedia.co.uk with your views and please subscribe to support sustainable local journalism in your community. Click here to view our offers.

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