A Wiltshire hospital is urgently expanding its intensive care (ICU) unit after an influx of patients with coronavirus needing critical treatment.
The Great Western Hospital claims it has seen a “significant spike” in patients being admitted with COVID-19, putting pressure on the ICU.
Swindon Borough Council says the town’s rate of infection is the highest it’s ever been, sitting at 727.7 per 100,000 people.
“That’s higher than the south west average of 579.9 per 100,000 and the England rate of 445.8 per 100,000, although the rate is increasing in all three”, public health director Steve Maddern said.
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The news comes as it was announced the UK Government are watching a new variant of the virus.
AY.4.2, which some are naming “Delta Plus”, contains mutations that might give the virus survival advantages, according to BBC News.
“Today, we are treating 66 COVID-19 patients, compared with around 45 a week ago”, a Great Western Hospital Foundation Trust spokesperson said.
They continued: “Of the patients needing our care today, seven of them are on ICU.
“This means our intensive care unit is becoming incredibly busy, and work is underway to extend ICU bed capacity.
“Many of our COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated, so we would continue urging the public to take up the offer of the vaccine at the earliest opportunity, to protect yourself and those around you.”
