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20-year-old thought to be victim of H1N1 virus
10:41am Saturday 8th January 2011

A young mum is believed to have died of suspected swine flu at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The woman, 20, is understood to have given birth in the last few weeks.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs BRI, would not comment on the grounds of patient confidentiality, but it is understood the woman died in the hospital’s intensive care unit on Thursday night.

It is believed the H1N1 swine flu virus is thought to be the cause of her death but tests are continuing to fully establish the circumstances.

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HOSPITALS are facing a fortnight of intense pressure on staff and beds as the winter flu seasons reaches a peak in Wales.

Health board managers have already been forced to cancel operations in a bid to cope with winter pressures.

But two of Wales’ largest health boards, which run the nation’s busiest hospitals, will take even more drastic action as demand for inpatient care continues to rise.

Morriston Hospital, in Swansea, which is also coping with a large norovirus outbreak, will convert part of a children’s ward into a general medical ward for sick adults.
And Cardiff and Vale University Health Board will postpone all non-urgent surgery and outpatient appointments from Monday as all resources are concentrated on the needs of emergency patients.

Public health experts believe flu has reached peak levels in Wales but hospitals will continue to feel its effects throughout January.

Dr Meirion Evans, a regional epidemiologist at Public Health Wales, said: “My estimation is that we’ve reached the peak – we’d normally expect the flu season to last six to eight weeks and we’re about three to four weeks in. I would expect, therefore, the numbers of people consulting their GP will gradually fall away, although the numbers will still remain higher than baseline levels until the end of January.

“The impact on hospitals and critical care will take more time to ease off. It seems the peak pressure on hospitals will be delayed by one to two weeks.

“It’s possible hospitals have not experienced the worst of it yet.”

All non-urgent hospital-based healthcare will be suspended at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and nearby Llandough Hospital from Monday. Dr Graham Shortland, interim medical director of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “We are experiencing extraordinary pressure on services at the moment, with seasonal flu and other illnesses currently prevalent in the community compounding already high levels of demand.

“We have had to take the decision, as part of our winter plan, to move our clinical staff to where they can be most effective which is, at the moment, on our wards, caring for those patients who need inpatient treatment.

“These decisions are not taken lightly and only after a full review of all the options.”

A no-visiting rule continues to be in force at Morriston Hospital as a result of the ongoing norovirus outbreaks.

Non-urgent operations have also been cancelled and for the next fortnight half of a children’s ward will be given over to adult patients.

David Sissling, chief executive of Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, which runs Morriston Hospital, said: “We have utilised any free capacity to increase the number of beds available on the Morriston Hospital site and have increased the support available from community services to help discharge patients and avoid admission.

“The control of infection team have been providing intensive support to ensure that the wards affected by norovirus are managed appropriately so that they can be brought back into full operation as quickly as possible. We anticipate that some of these wards will be brought back into full use over the next few days.

“We have cancelled all operations other than the most urgent clinical priorities to ensure that beds are available for emergency patients.

“We apologise to the patients who have been affected by the emergency pressures.”

Other health boards in Wales have said they have been forced to cancel routine operations over the last week as a result of winter pressures, including flu.

A statement from Hywel Dda Health Board, said: “Due to the pressures the organisation is currently experiencing, Hywel Dda Health Board has cancelled a limited number of selected elective lists on a number of our sites.

“As we did limit the number of routine elective operations over Christmas and the New Year this has lessened the effect. All urgent cases have been admitted and the only cancelled cases were those of a less urgent nature.”

And a spokeswoman for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: “After Christmas, due to winter pressures a small number of operations have been cancelled on all three sites. Winter pressures arise as the demand on the hospital service increases with more patients needing to be admitted.

“Each of the hospitals is also affected by staff sickness, which places additional pressure on the system.

“To support the management of patients in the hospital since December 31, a small number of outpatient clinics have been cancelled, again on each site, to enable clinical staff to be re-deployed from outpatient services to wards and the accident and emergency departments to ensure that our workforce is focusing on those patients who are most clinically urgent.”

Dr Andrew Dearden, chair of the British Medical Association’s Welsh Council, has previously criticised the Assembly Government’s ongoing policy of closing NHS beds, which increases pressure on hospitals at times of crisis.

“If we know demand is going to increase then we should be opening up beds before Christmas and putting on extra staff.

“We’ve been saying this for the 16 years that I’ve been a GP and yet we’re surprised every year when demand peaks and we panic about what to do.”

Official figures published earlier this week show 12 people have died in Wales after contracting flu and the virus has contributed to a further 45 deaths.

It was yesterday reported the family of Katrina Theis, 52, from Wrexham, believe her death on Wednesday was caused by the H1N1 swine flu virus.

Elsewhere in the UK, the flu death toll now stands at 50.

A total of 71 patients with flu are being treated in critical care beds in Welsh hospitals.

Flu crisis leads to hospital imposing child visitor ban
by CHRISTINA MASSEY

CHILDREN below the age of 12 will not be allowed to visit friends or relatives at Burton’s Queen’s Hospital unless it is essential.

The hospital claims its move to impose youngsters with visiting restrictions has come in light of ‘increased activity during the winter season’.

The announcement follows the news that four patients have died at the hospital in the last month after contracting swine flu and the more common seasonal strain of the bug.

South Staffordshire PCT has said it will not be ordering old swine flu vaccines to make up for a shortfall supplies.

Sandra Coates, deputy director of nursing, said: “A decision has been made to implement temporary visiting restrictions to all wards by children under the age of 12 with immediate effect.”

In cases where it is essential for a child to visit a relative or friend, people are asked to contact the ward manager in advance by calling 01283 566333.

FIFTEEN patients are in critical care beds in Gwent hospitals as a result of flu - and though the consultation rate appears to have stalled, experts say the festive holiday may have influenced the latest figures.

Wales-wide, 71 patients are in critical care with flu, and 12 deaths are being attributed to the virus so far this winter.
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The South East has reported its first case of fatality from swine flu that occurred in a hospital in East Sussex.

The patient, whose personal details have not been disclosed, succumbed to suspected swine flu at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Individual's details cannot be revealed due to confidentiality as it could make his/her identification easy ion the regional area, as expressed by a spokeswoman for NHS South East Coast. She also forbade telling about person's age or sex.
Around 51 confirmed or suspected cases of flu are being provided critical care in Kent, Sussex and Surrey, told NHS South East Coast on Thursday...............................................

Saturday, January 08, 2011, 09:00

SWAMPED: The University Hospital of North Staffordshire.
By dave blackhurst dave.blackhurst@thesentinel.co.uk

ALL routine surgery has been stopped in North Staffordshire because its main hospital has been swamped by record numbers of emergency patients.

Hundreds of people due to go under the knife at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire next week are being told not to come in as there is no bed for them.

Last night, 107 patients needing urgent treatment had spilled over into beds reserved for cases from the surgical waiting list.

The emergencies include 30 people with confirmed or suspected swine flu who are either in the complex's critical care beds or at its newly-opened infectious diseases unit. They bring the total admitted in this winter's epidemic to 150.

The hospital normally cancels scores of non-emergency operations a month after patients have already arrived for their procedures.

But as no let-up in the crisis is in sight, the trust announced yesterday it was calling off all surgery next week, leading to several hundred postponements.

They include all day cases, some children and even a number of cancer patients whose chances of beating the illness will not be affected by the delay.

Officials will now be expected to re-schedule their surgery within a month, in line with Government targets on cancelled operations.

Chief executive Julia Bridgewater, pictured below, said: "Since Boxing Day, we been under unprecedented pressure with emergencies and there have been days when the patient experience has not been what we would have wanted.

"We have had to cancel routine and day case surgery to ensure we can staff the areas we do have open. This is because we have to do the right thing to protect patient safety.

"Staff have gone way beyond the call of duty to cope with these pressures and when I have been on to wards and departments this week, I have been humbled by their dedication."

The emergency cases include elderly patients whose underlying conditions such as chest and heart disease and diabetes have flared up in the coldest winter for decades.

But people suffering falls in the icy conditions have added to the numbers flooding into A&E.

The unit normally sees just over 200 patients a day, but since the New Year, it has dealt with up to 360. Pressure started to build on Boxing Day evening, when 60 people needed treatment.

Health campaign group leader Ian Syme said: "Although things have been particularly bad this winter, we see these pressures every year. The UHNS almost becomes a hospital for emergencies only between December and March.

"The key to cutting down this demand is for more support to be put into place in the community for people with long-standing conditions to prevent them becoming emergencies."

On top of the crisis, the hospital still has four wards shut to new patients because of the winter vomiting bug, norovirus.

FLU rates have doubled in Bolton as hospital bosses cancel more non-urgent operations in a bid to cope with high numbers of seriously ill people.

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Healey condemns ConDems as swine flu cases surge in RotherhamBy Sally Burton and Lee Peace


Published on Sat Jan 08 11:45:36 GMT 2011

LABOUR’S Shadow Health Secretary John Healey has challenged his Coalition opposite number, Andrew Lansley, to “get a grip” of the escalating winter flu outbreak.

He spoke as Rotherham Hospital faced a surge in admissions of people with swine flu symptoms – mirroring the national situation.

Figures released by the Health Protection Agency revealed almost 40 people across the country to have died from flu-related illness up to New Year’s Eve.

And 738 people were said to be in critical care at that point – up from 460 the previous week.

The Dearne MP claimed in the Commons that the Health Secretary was “playing catch up” and had failed to make sure sound advice has been widely given to the public – as Lansley did a late u-turn to order the launch of the winter flu vaccination campaign.

Mr Healey told MPs: “Last week saw almost a trebling of people going to their GP with flu symptoms.

“The number of patients in hospital and in intensive care has risen, yet vaccination rates are down on previous years.

“This year’s strain of the winter flu virus is more virulent than usual, and the government’s actions are too little too late.

“The public need answers and actions from the Health Secretary.”

As both visitors and staff were seen wearing masks on the admissions ward at Rotherham Hospital, chiefs admitted they had held emergency meetings to decide how to deal with what could be the worst flu outbreak in years.

But they refused to disclose numbers of admissions.

John Radford, Director of Public Health at NHS Rotherham, said: “Swine flu is particularly affecting young adults and pregnant women and we have seen a surge of people being admitted to hospital. Seasonal flu levels have also risen in the elderly, causing further pressure on hospital beds and services.

“We can all help prevent the spread of flu by following a few basic steps such as covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue and then disposing of it in a bin and washing hands frequently with soap and warm water, particularly after using a tissue, before preparing food and after using the toilet”.

A spokeswoman for Barnsley NHS Hospital Trust said that the situation regarding flu patients in Barnsley to date was not judged as critical.

And Dr Tony Baxter, Director of Public Health for Doncaster, added: “We are not aware that we have a large number of flu cases in Doncaster compared to any other normal winter.

“Routine testing for suspected flu cases is not being carried out, so we don’t have figures of the actual number of cases. But we would expect swine flu to be a common strain this season.

Four patients lie unconscious fighting for their lives as medics work around-the-clock to try to save them.

These are the human faces of the swine flu crisis – people from all walks of life and backgrounds united by the H1N1 virus sweeping the country.

The sign on the door – warning visitors they must wear gowns and masks – is the first real indicator of the high stakes involved when treating some of the sickest swine flu victims in the country.

Here at Wythenshawe Hospital, medics are using specialist life support techniques to try to save the lives of swine flu victims in Greater Manchester for the first time. It is just one of five hospitals in the country equipped to treat seriously ill swine flu patients and is playing a vital role in dealing with the outbreak nationally.

Just three days ago, Keith Daglish, 43, was flown in an RAF helicopter from Durham to Wythenshawe in a last-ditch bid to save him.

All three emergency services and the military were involved in the mission to move him and he remains on the unit as staff battle to improve his condition. They have converted a ward usually used to treat heart patients into a specialist swine flu unit where patients are treated using ECMO or Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation system.

The life-support technique uses a complex £40,000 machine which takes blood from the heart, removes carbon dioxide, and pumps oxygen into it before pushing it back around the body.

It is only needed by a tiny percentage of swine flu patients who suffer major complications and it allows their lungs to rest completely and recover.

They are looked after by a team of doctors, nurses and heart and lung machine technicians called perfusionists. The medics are completely drained – emotionally and physically – after working 12-hour shifts but accept that without their extraordinary efforts and putting in the long hours, these patients would not survive.

Laura Turrall, 25, from Glossop, is one of six specialist ECMO nurses at Wythenshawe.

She spent eight months training in the technique last year, culminating in exams, essays and practical assessments but at the time didn’t even know if she would get to put her newly-acquired skills into practice.

But the events of recent weeks – with 12 swine flu patients dying in Greater Manchester alone – have meant that she is now on the frontline, carrying out cutting-edge life-saving treatment every day.

During a rare break from the busy unit, she told the M.E.N: “We are working about 60 hours a week - I had one day off in 11 over Christmas. It is literally taking over our lives. When I was training I didn’t even know if I’d get to use the technique - I didn’t really imagine it would be as bad as this but you put up with the tiredness because you think if it was my mum, you’d hope someone would do this for her.

“I was part of the team that went to Durham to retrieve a patient with the RAF helicopter. It was surreal - we get trained for this but you never expect you’ll have to do it.The patients are unconscious so our nurses have to do everything from washing them, morning, afternoon and night, to brushing their teeth.

“They are in special beds that rotate to minimise the risk of pressure sores. We obviously have to take extra precautions too, such as having the swine flu vaccination and wearing masks to keep us safe.”

The treatment takes between five days and three weeks and even if it is successful patients still face a long recovery on intensive care.

Currently, the unit is treating four patients from across the country, including a woman from Wythenshawe. Seven have undergone the treatment at Wythenshawe since it was introduced last month.

Each patient is monitored 24 hours a day by a nurse with a team of specialist clinicians working non-stop on the ward.

A small number of non-urgent heart operations had to be postponed as specialist heart staff are treating ECMO patients.

Dr Julian Barker, head of cardiothoracic intensive care at Wythenshawe, explained that although he was treating very poorly patients, for the majority of people swine flu is a mild illness.

“In terms of overall numbers of cases, I don’t think what we are seeing this year is any worse than a flu season but we are seeing some very sick patients,” he said.

“We simply don’t know how long this will go on for and how it will develop but we are braced until the end of February. We are taking it week by week.

“It is tough for everyone at the moment but we are one of the units leading the way on this type of care".