Staff under extreme pressure at St George's Hospital

As of January 11, the hospital is treating 79 Covid-positive patients in intensive care.

A further 253 covid-positive patients are being cared for on the wards.

In a video posted on the Trust’s Twitter page, Dr Mark Haden told how patients “with no previous medical problems have come in very, very sick, and some people have died.”

He added: “I don’t think you’re seeing that. You see it as a statistic or a number on the news, but you don’t see the patient or the families and having to break that news to them.”

Consultant Mark Haden told @PA how patients 'with no previous medical problems have come in very, very sick.'

People help our staff by staying at home and following the rules. Anyone can get Covid-19, and anyone can spread it. #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/P0hx0k2YJy

— St George's NHS FT (@StGeorgesTrust) January 9, 2021

Another member of the team, medical registrar Omome Etomi, said: “There’s a full spectrum of patients that we see, some patients as soon as they’re off the ambulance into A&E are so unwell that they need a direct admission to intensive care.

“There are some patients that come through that are higher risk of deterioration and […] within 12 to 24 hours they’re in an intensive care bed.

Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

“Some patients the deterioration is more unpredictable, so you start off the day with someone that looks fairly stable, and again by the end of your shift the situation is such that they require that additional level of support.”

Sadly, 481 patients have died after testing positive for coronavirus at the hospital since the start of the pandemic last March.

The dramatic rise in cases in the capital in recent weeks has led to a surge in admissions to hospitals across London.

"The deterioration is unpredictable"

Medical registrar Omome Etomi explains how it’s impossible to predict how unwell a patient will be – and the level of care they will need.

Please #StayHome. Mild Covid-19 symptoms for some could be deadly for others.

📽️: @PA pic.twitter.com/uk2yLbWnM0

— St George's NHS FT (@StGeorgesTrust) January 8, 2021

A week ago (January 4) 265 coronavirus patients were being treated at St George’s hospital, with 66 in intensive care and 199 being treated on the wards.

A spokesperson for St George’s Hospital said: “Like all London hospitals, our services are under enormous pressure at the moment, and we are incredibly grateful to our staff, who are going above and beyond to provide safe and effective care for patients.

“Covid-19 is very, very real, and the public can help us by following lockdown rules, and observing hands, face and space at all times.”