Fewer beds occupied at Suffolk hospitals during early months of coronavirus pandemic
The number of occupied hospital beds at two Suffolk NHS trusts dropped sharply during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, new figures reveal.
Medical experts say a decrease in bed occupancy across England was partly driven by hospitals discharging patients and cancelling planned treatment to free up capacity to deal with Covid-19.
But they also raised concerns about the potential impact on patients who put off seeking help due to fear of catching the virus.
NHS data shows there were just 702 overnight stays recorded at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Ipswich Hospital, between April and June, down from 1,108 between January and March – a decrease of 37 per cent.
Meanwhile, there was a slightly bigger drop in occupied beds at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, which operates West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds , where there were 235 overnight stays recorded between the same period, which was less than the 376 recorded between January and March – a decrease of 38 per cent.
The drop in bed occupancy at these two trusts was similar to the England average, where the figure fell 31 per cent to 76,300 – the lowest number on record.
And figures from the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health services in the area, show there was a decrease of 10 per cent of overnight stays, with just 324 recorded between April and June, down from 362 between January and March.
Dr Nick Scriven, former president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said the emptying of wards was due to several factors, including hospitals discharging patients and cancelling planned admissions.
He added: “As well as this was the well-documented move by people in general to avoid coming to hospitals at all costs, often to their detriment.”
Sarah Scobie, deputy director of research at the Nuffield Trust think tank, said the drop in numbers could be partly down to fewer people needing emergency care due to lockdown restrictions.
But the impact on patients who avoided seeking treatment due to fear of infection was yet to be seen, she said.
Ms Scobie added: “We will see bed occupancy begin to creep back up, but it will take time as the NHS is slowed down by Covid-secure and infection control measures to protect both patients and staff.”
In West Suffolk Trust, the number of available beds dropped from 488 between January and March to 391 between April and June.
Across England, the figure fell 8 per cent to around 118,500.
Dr Scriven said this could be down to staff sickness levels meaning beds had to be closed and staff being redeployed from general areas to others.
But social distancing measures were also restricting space for beds, he added, which would be "a major worry" if admissions ramp up in the autumn.
Read more: All the latest news from Suffolk
