Council and Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust launch campaign urging residents to help protect local health services

Swindon Borough Council and the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GWH) have today launched a joint campaign encouraging Swindon residents to follow public health guidance, to reduce Swindon’s COVID-19 case rate and protect their local hospital.

The campaign, which calls on all residents to ‘Let’s do it for our GWH’ will be running over the coming weeks showing residents the impact the virus has on the local hospital and encouraging people to support the hospital and other local health services by reducing their risk of catching the virus.

In line with the rest of the UK, Swindon has recently seen a significant spike in coronavirus cases over recent weeks, with the case rate reaching close to 200 cases per 100,000 at its peak. This has resulted in a large increase in COVID-19 patients being admitted to the Great Western Hospital in recent weeks. More than 600 patients have been treated for COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

Tragically, the recent spike has also seen another 11 deaths across the borough since 1 November, including some at the Great Western Hospital, bringing the total to 120 deaths recorded within 28 days of a COVID-19 test.

Recent increases in COVID-19 cases at GWH has meant the hospital has converted some existing wards to provide specialist care for these patients, putting significant pressure on staff and other hospital services.

With Christmas on the horizon and a mass rollout of a vaccine not yet in place, the Council and hospital are calling on local residents to pay extra attention to the most up-to-date public health guidance in order to reduce the Borough’s case rate, protect the local hospital and allow staff to provide the care to all those who need it.

Yesterday (26 Nov), the Government announced that Swindon has been moved to the ‘High Alert’ Tier 2 level, within the new tier system. The restrictions for areas within Tier 2 will come into force from Wednesday, 2 December at the end of the current lockdown period. It is crucial residents understand and follow these new guidelines which can be found on the Government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/full-list-of-local-restriction-tiers-by-area#tier-2-high-alert 

So far the hospital has not had to cancel non-urgent operations or outpatient appointments due to COVID-19, but that could change if the numbers of patients in the hospital increase.

Residents are encouraged to continue attending their appointments as normal. The hospital has taken a number of steps to keep people safe including reducing the number of entrances, introducing one-way systems where possible, and asking everyone in the building to wear a face mask or covering. Social distancing is enforced throughout the Trust’s buildings and infection prevention and control is a major focus.

For the hospital to continue caring for all patients, it is crucial the case rate and the number of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital is low.

Kevin McNamara, Chief Executive of Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our staff are currently extremely busy caring for patients with COVID-19, in addition to the many other people who need hospital care at this time of year.

“We are prepared for a potential surge in COVID patients but are working extremely hard to be able to keep our services going for as long as we can for those patients who have had their treatment delayed from the first wave, and our community has a really important role to play in helping us do this.

“By following all national and local guidance, residents can help reduce the numbers so we can continue to not only care for those with COVID but also those who need treatment for other, just as important, health needs.

“If we all work together, we can make sure everyone can get the vital hospital care they need across the winter when we know pressures on our health service increase.

“The hospital remains a safe place for all patients so please continue to attend appointments when asked to, and if you can’t come for whatever reason, then please let us know so we can give your appointment to someone else who needs it.”

Councillor Brian Ford, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, said: “The number of people requiring hospital care, and tragically, dying in recent weeks, show how important it is we do not let our local case rate increase.

“The more people who have the virus, the faster it spreads and that then inevitably leads to an increase in people requiring hospital care.

“It is up to all of us to continue to follow guidance as carefully as possible to keep our case rate low, protect the vital health services we all need and prevent us going into higher tiers of restrictions.

“It has been an incredibly hard year, and while a vaccine is on the horizon, it won’t have an impact until well into next year.

“I would like to thank everyone who has given up so much this year but now is not the time to let our guard down and we need to continue to protect our health service by following the guidance every day, in every activity and every time we meet with other people outside our households.”