The number of Covid patients in hospital in Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell at Christmas

Local hospital trusts in Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell treated hundreds of Covid patients over Christmas.

Covid infection rates continue to soar across the country with the spread of the Omicron Variant, with a record-breaking 218,724 coronavirus cases diagnosed yesterday (January 4).

There are many reports saying the latest variant is milder than earlier coronavirus infections, such as Delta.

But the data shows the number of people admitted to hospital with Covid-19 in local hospitals increased during December.

One hospital trust saw a 300% increase in Covid patients during the month.

In total, latest NHS figures show that 588 people were treated for Covid-19 in hospitals in Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell over Christmas.

However the figures also show that overall there was a reduction in the number of Covid patients requiring ventilators from the end of November to Boxing Day across the local trusts.

Here are the admissions figures for the week ending 1 December with the week up to Boxing Day along with the number of people on ventilators at the start of the month and just after Christmas.

The number of patients in hospital in Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell with Covid-19

At University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust there was a rise of 29.8% - with 209 Covid-19 patients in the trust’s four hospitals requiring treatment in the week up to Boxing Day, compared to 161 in the week ending 1 December.

Of these there were 18 Covid patients requiring ventilation on December 28, compared with 30 Covid-19 patients requiring ventilation on 1 December.

The trust covers Good Hope Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and Solihull Hospital.

At Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, there was a rise of 41.7% in admissions - with 17 Covid patients requiring treatment in the week up to Boxing Day, compared with 12 in the week up to 1 December.

The trust did see an increase in the number of patients requiring ventilation, however. There were 4 Covid patients on ventilators as of 28 December, compared with none in the week ending 1 December.

The trust covers Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Birmingham Women’s Hospital.

At Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, there was a rise of 176.9% - with 108 patients brought in with Covid-19 in the week up to Boxing Day, compared with 39 patients in the week ending 1 December.

Of these, the data shows that 7 Covid-19 patients required ventilation in the week ending 28 December, compared with 14 patients in the week ending 1 December.

The trust covers Sandwell Hospital and Birmingham City Hospital.

At the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, there was a rise of 300% - with 20 patients brought in with Covid-19 in the week up to Boxing Day, compared with 5 in the week ending 1 December,.

No Covid-19 patients required ventilation at the Trust in December.

And at the Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust the number of people brought in with Covid fell by 78.6% - with 3 patients brought in with Covid-19 in the week up to December 26, compared with 14 patients brought in with Covid-19 in the week ending 1 December.

No Covid-19 patients required ventilation at the trust last month.

The trust covers Moseley Hall Hospital and West Heath Hospital.

What is the current situation with Covid-19 faced by hospitals?

Most Covid-positive patients in English hospitals are being treated primarily for coronavirus, although the Omicron wave has resulted in a growing minority who are admitted for other conditions but who test positive for Covid-19 as well.

On December 1, a quarter (25.7%) of Covid patients in hospital in England were being treated primarily for other conditions. By December 28, this had risen to a third (33%).

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