Dear colleagues,
Since my last message, we have continued to see a significant rise in the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 in our local community, and this has led to a sharp increase in the number of COVID positive patients admitted to our hospitals. This increase in patients not only puts pressure on how we deliver our care, but I am keenly aware of the increased pressure this also places on you, our incredible workforce, after what has already been a long seven months of the pandemic.
I wanted to offer you a further update on how the Trust is managing this second wave and what plans are in place to help us through the autumn and into the winter months.
You will know that during the first wave it was necessary to suspend a large amount of planned activity, yet as a Trust we continued to prioritise care for those requiring urgent surgery for life-threatening conditions, such as those with cancer.
Whilst we are determined to continue the delivery of planned care as much as possible, we must also ensure that we can provide safe and effective urgent care to those who require it at this time. This is a difficult balance to get right, but I am confident that as a Trust we will work as a team to do the very best we possibly can for all of our patients.
In the coming weeks, it will be necessary to rearrange some planned activity in order to create beds for urgent medical care when we are experiencing peaks of pressure. During the first wave, many of you were asked to undertake different duties to your usual roles, and you did this with an unwavering commitment to our patients for which I am sincerely grateful.
As we experience this second peak, I am sure I can count on your support once more to help us get through this challenging time.
Your hard work and perseverance is never taken for granted, and myself and the Trust Board would like to offer our sincere thanks for your ongoing support during these difficult times.
I simply will never be able to say thank you enough for your courage, and the compassion you show to our patients and each other.
As we move towards winter, I know that the coming months may seem daunting, but I am in no doubt that we will all continue to pull together and look out for each other as we have done so far. I am extremely proud of Team STHK.
I will continue to keep you informed of further changes to how we need to provide our care as the situation continues to develop.
Kind regards
Ann