York NHS staff facing the pressure of winter in July says city’s public health director

Councillors were told last night that staff working for the NHS in York were facing the same pressure on the service now, in July, as they would be in Winter.

Public health director for the city, Sharon Stoltz, said “It’s winter now in the NHS, We have never known it as bad as this,”

She listed a numer of issues including a high number of cases of respiratory conditions not from covid but related to lockdown shielding us from the usual bugs and lowering our natural immunity.

Ms Stoltz added: “healthcare staff are demoralised and worried about another wave

“Many are off work with covid, self-isolating, caring for children who are self isolating or off sick with mental health problems”

They are facing cases of long covid and long waiting lists for other treatments too.

There are currently 24 patients in York Hospital Trust with suspected covid. Figures from last week showed 16 patients

There are confirmed cases at 4 care homes and 1 recent covid death.

Schools are under pressure with 107 cases among York pupils and Fulford School has had to close for the rest of term because of the number of students self-isolating there.

Covid rate may be slowing

York’s rate is currently at 415.9 cases per 100,000 – but case rates may be starting to slow down she said. That appears to be because students are leaving the city for the Summer and that is having an effect on case numbers.

It’s been seen in other university cities too.