Coronavirus cases rising at Black Country hospitals
Rising coronavirus cases in the Black Country are beginning to have an impact on hospital admissions, health bosses have said.
Chiefs at Sandwell’s NHS trust said increasing numbers of Covid-19 patients were a “cause for concern”.
Wolverhampton's trust say cases are also up at New Cross Hospital.
While coronavirus cases have been rising for weeks, it had not resulted in a large rise in hospital admissions with young people having been mostly affected.
Health chiefs say that has now begun to change, with preparations for managing a second wave being ramped up.
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David Carruthers, acting chief executive of the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and Birmingham City Hospitals, said in a new report to board members: "We are monitoring carefully the cases in the community that have led to further restrictions in Sandwell, Birmingham, Solihull and Wolverhampton.
"We have seen an increase in the number of inpatient admissions which is cause for concern.
"Our surge plan is now documented and we are reviewing the decisions made during the early stages of the pandemic to ensure that we are prepared and have considered what we will need to change, when.
"Further national and local restrictions, including school closures will undoubtedly have an impact on our workforce, be that with childcare or wellbeing needs."
