Hospitals in danger of being overwhelmed

That's what I think too Sarnia. I refuse to get stressed about it (mindfulness helps) and just do what I can to keep myself Covid free.

Japan with their surrounding islands has a population which is over double of ours on this small island so comparing infection rates our country is teetering on the brink. It's now vital that every citizen obeys all the rules which are in place or it's going to be catastrophic.

Despairingly, many people in my area are taking no notice of the rules. In the first lockdown our local roads were practically deserted with only essential traffic on them. I have been to the post box this morning and the roads were very busy. A friend of mine who lives right by a local beauty spot sent me an e-mail to say the large car park and the road outside is crowded with cars. Boris asked people not to drive anywhere to exercise but obviously he must have meant those rules for other people. It makes me cross, disheartened and sad that this sort of behaviour isn't lockdown and will allow Covid to keep spreading. Why can't people just conform so we can all have some freedom very soon?

The news is very grim, we all know that and we all know how to play our part in helping not to spread the virus.

However if anyone feels completely overwhelmed by the situation it’s worth remembering that the vast majority of people who contract the virus do recover. We have always been told that and it’s still true now.

Yes I know hospitals are swamped with cases and I know some people have lingering symptoms with long covid, but for the sake of everyone’s mental health we need to keep the situation in perspective.

Catching covid is not an automatic death sentence.

Like many others on here I don’t think we’ve reached the peak yet and although it is all so serious I still think many people are not taking it seriously. There are still lots of cars on the road, people doing non essential shopping and mixing with others. I saw someone yesterday with her sister, granddaughter and baby - 3 different households come out of the house and go for a walk. No mask, no social distancing. Could be that there was a bubble with 2 households but def not three. 2 of them are over 70 and at risk. Plus they spent Christmas as an extended family and we were in tier 4 so shouldn’t have seen anyone. Sometimes I despair and feel there is no hope that we will ever move beyond this.

My 85 yr old FIL was discharged yesterday after hip surgery despite being tested positive for Covid. He lives alone and was sent home at short notice. A care package was in place but he was mentally disorientated and totally immobile. No criticism at all of the NHS, but what are we meant to do when the family are all vulnerable age and with underlying medical conditions? The carers rang 999 and he is now back in a Covid ward for further testing.

LauraNorder "^There is an end in sight, choose the right end, stay safe."^

This is a brilliant slogan.

My son lives in Kyoto and he tells me that although the cases have doubled in Japan, it is still only 4,000 a day.

New cases were nearly 7,000 yesterday in Japan so perhaps it is the sudden rise in rates which is alarming.

A state of emergency has been declared in Manaus, Brazil, after they had hoped to have reached a state of 'herd immunity' in September.

www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/hopes-herd-immunity-wane-manaus-city-declares-state-emergency/

This lockdown needs to be stricter like the main one in the Spring. Having shops like Next open for click and collect is ridiculous imo as it means more people come out to the shop and any shop that is open e.g. Wilkinsons etc they flock to as well! This click and collect nonsense needs to STOP now!

If even the stricter countries in Europe or worldwide still have big problems then the UK’s situation is not surprising.

My son lives in Kyoto and he tells me that although the cases have doubled in Japan, it is still only 4,000 a day. A large and unacceptable number I know but much less than the number here and for a much more densely populated country. I think that the answer lies in the fact that Japan is such a clean country. People wear masks without complaining, they follow the rules without complaining and are unfailingly polite and caring towards each other. Last year on a visit to Kyoto a gentlemen offered his umbrella to my husband as it was raining and he didn’t have one with him. More of that care and compassion for our fellow man/woman is what is needed here before we can begin to overcome this dreadful virus.

It's bad here in N.Ireland, hospitals are full, operations cancelled for even people that's been red flagged with maybe cancer. We went into an stricter lockdown on Friday and I've sat and watched cars going in and out, where I live, just like a normal day. These idiotic, selfish people are winding me up big time. I'm sitting with no milk as I'm now scared to go to the shop! Those poor doctors and nurses are working long stressful hours helping people, saving people and this is the thanks they get. We are all tired of this virus, bored with it all, but it's still with us and getting worse. Why can't some people get it in their thick heads that this is serious and just stay in. All these people going out can't all have emergencies or shortages of food they have to see to.

I see Japan have issued a state of emergency in Tokyo. So not all Far East countries have a handle on it.

Since October I have spent over 2 months in and out of hospital/care home facilities partly with repeated diabetic complications but also Covid. I have nothing but praise for the medical/care staff who have been wonderful and also kept cheerful and positive! I'm determined that I'm not going to block beds again for . . . hopefully a year, at least. Still no mention of vaccination from our NHS Trust

I read this last night. I hope they are ready to open.

www.standard.co.uk/news/health/nhs-nightingale-hospital-london-excel-centre-covid-admissions-b748288.html?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=Feed

now not no

it takes years to train ICU consultants, doctors and nurses to operate the equipment required to both attach these exceptionally sick patients to and monitor them on to keep them alive

Yes, it takes years from a base point of being unqualified but qualified nurses, even those who have just qualified , can be trained in a short period of time to use the equipment eg ventilators and how to nurse Covid patients in ICU.
Many were trained and have not yet been required but probably will be transferred over no.
However, that means they will not be carrying out their usual duties so other patients will be on the waiting lists for even longer.

I am so annoyed by the ‘ it’s my right to do what I want ‘ brigade. Protesting , marching , false information spreading . I am watching my dad die because he wasn’t treated quickly enough for cancer.
I can’t imagine that those protesting about Christmas were even religious. I haven’t seen my own parents for nearly a year , so are they saying that their lives are not worth as much as their right to ignore what is the right thing to do.
If they really believe they are immortal why not make them do the 72 hour shifts on the wards caring for the people who have this terrible virus , make them watch the result of their actions .
I am shocked and depressed at the lack of compassion shown by these human beings.

It hasn’t peaked - we have the Christmas behaviour knock-on to come

We've had fifteen days (six days, post Christmas, in December, and nine days of January). So, how far along will our Christmas infections be?

Incubation is, on average 5 or 6 days (but can be up to 14) then, if there are symptoms, illness for 7 days. Hopefully, that's followed by recovery.

Average timescales, for those who need hospital, admittance 5 to 9 days after symptoms appear. Then, recovery, 5 to fifteen days - or death, 5 to 12 days.

So, calculators at the ready folks - when will the worst day be for death rates?

I agree with Ellan that the Christmas mixing shouldn’t have been officially allowed. I say ‘officially ‘ because I’m sure people would have still mixed.

Harris27, the original purpose of the nightingale 'hospitals' was to care for those already on ventilators - and the dying. That would free up space in real hospitals. The staff required just weren't available, though.

The Nightingale Hospitals are still in existence but now many doctors and nurses are falling victim to the virus, and so there are not enough to staff extra hospitals.

The only thing we can all do is avoid any unnecessary contact with other people, and stay at home as much as possible. As one doctor said recently ‘viruses love a crowd’.

What people don’t seem to understand is that the NHS simply doesn’t have enough of the highly trained staff to deal with all these extra cases, it’s all very well Boris buying up hundreds of ventilators, setting up nightingale hospitals all over the place if there isn’t the staff to man them... it takes years to train ICU consultants, doctors and nurses to operate the equipment required to both attach these exceptionally sick patients to and monitor them on to keep them alive. My daughter is a consultant anaesthetist in London.... she says it a battle zone everyday and it’s the foot soldiers , ie the nurses, particularly the ICU nurses, that are bearing the brunt!