Lincolnshire’s hospitals have not reached capacity during the coronavirus crisis, bosses have confirmed.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, which runs facilities in Lincoln, Boston and Grantham, had plenty of capacity available according to Chief Executive Andrew Morgan.
He said that at one point in fact, the hospitals had 600 empty beds, but was now starting to fill up again as some non-elective admissions and emergency activity began to build up.
Currently the hospital has 214 empty beds.
“We had lots of capacity available which is as you would expect us to do,” he said.
“We had a plan for the worst and hope for the best approach, so no, we did not reach our capacity.”
Andrew Morgan, chief executive of United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust. Picture: Calvin Robinson
It comes as the trust begins to plan for the restoration of a “great, long list” of urgent and essential services such as cardiac, heart cancer, primary care and community services.
Plans include separating patients and staff down green (non-COVID) and blue (COVID) pathways through the hospitals, reducing footfall and testing patients before they’re admitted for operations.
Mr Morgan said the Trust was “well-placed” for the restoration partly due to Lincolnshire not being as badly affected as some areas.
However, Mr Morgan said the trust was also making sure that capacity could be “turned back on” if needed for any potential second wave.
“As lockdown eases and people look to move about more, as potentially people come into Lincolnshire for holidays and holidays are allowed, at any point in the next few months the potential for increased transmission is a concern,” he said.
“Obviously we hope we don’t need it, but all of those plans are there ready, should it be necessary.”
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Over a tonne of food and essential items, as well as more than £16,000, have been donated to local food banks through a Lincolnshire Co-op campaign.
The donations came after Lincolnshire Co-op launched its food bank advent calendar campaign throughout December.
An estimated 1,350kg of food and essentials, the equivalent of around 3,213 meals, and £16,675 of store dividend and cash was donated to over 40 larders and food banks in Lincolnshire.
Customers could also donate store dividend as well as cash and items. | Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op
Customers were encouraged to donate one item each day during their shopping, dropping them in collection bins at local stores.
A full collection bin at the Queen Elizabeth Road store in Lincoln. | Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op
Each day a new item was suggested by Lincolnshire Co-op, ranging from tinned goods to cleaning products, providing an advent calendar format for the scheme.
Items were suggested for donations with campaign labels in stores. | Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op
Sam Turner, Community Manager at Lincolnshire Co-op said: “We’re so grateful to everyone who donated to our Food Bank Advent Calendar campaign.
“Thanks to the generosity of our shoppers, members, and colleagues, we’ve been able to support the important work of local food banks in our area and help feed families at Christmas and beyond.”
Boston United will have no games for two weeks, as the National League North and South divisions come to a temporary halt.
It comes after a review of feedback from all clubs in the sixth tier of English football, which will see football at that level paused for two weeks.
The move is effective immediately, meaning Boston United’s home fixture against Brackley Town has been postponed until further notice.
A board meeting with the National League decided to put a stop to football at that level, amid growing concerns of rising coronavirus cases and winter financial packages.
Clubs were informed that while government funding was still likely from January to March, it would be in the form of loans rather than grants should football continue to go ahead.
Boston United chairman David Newton. | Photo: Boston United FC
Boston United chairman David Newton issued a statement on Thursday outlining the club’s stance in relation to the season, saying that he supported the decision to suspend the season.
“Clubs were also asked to give their views on a potential four-to-six-week suspension of the competition.
“After lengthy discussions within the club, we confirmed that we would, on balance, support this.
“We are a football club so, of course, we want to be playing games, but our decision took into account a number of factors.
“We are somewhat uncomfortable playing when the pandemic is at its peak and a large part of the population are locked down.
“Despite the strict Covid protocols we have in place, there is always a risk to players, staff and their families, and that has to be paramount in decision-making.
“We would, of course, need to know the detail relating to any suspension – and planned restart – before offering our final support to the proposal.”
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