A QUARTER of 'Covid inpatients' in England are primarily being treated for a different illness or injury

[Bob Simpson]

Ahh, so the truth is finally coming out.

<https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10000899/A-QUARTER-NHS-
beds-taken-Covid-patients-primarily-treated-reasons.html>


"A QUARTER of 'Covid inpatients' in England are primarily being
treated for a different illness or injury, official data shows"

"Data shows 6,146 NHS beds taken up by Covid positive patients on
Sept 14, latest health service data shows
But just 4,721 patients (77%) were primarily being treated for
coronavirus, with rest possibly 'incidental' cases
In NHS hospitals in Midlands, a third of Covid inpatients were mainly
being treated for other illness or injury"

"Nearly a quarter of Covid inpatients in England are actually in
hospital for a different reason, according to official figures.

Health service statistics show there were 6,146 NHS beds taken up by
people who were coronavirus positive on September 14, the latest date
data is available for.

But just 4,721 patients (77 per cent) were primarily being treated
for the virus, with the remaining 1,425 receiving care for other
illnesses or injuries. They could include patients who've had a fall
or even new mothers who tested positive after giving birth.

In NHS hospitals in the Midlands, around a third of Covid patients
were mainly being treated for another reason on September 14.

Separate NHS figures suggest as many as half of daily
hospitalisations only test positive after being admitted for a
separate condition.

Hospital numbers have become the key metric for ministers and their
scientific advisers, now that vaccines have taken the emphasis away
from infection numbers.

Boris Johnson has said lockdown curbs may have to be reintroduced if
Covid hospital numbers rise sharply as part of his winter blueprint
to tackle the virus, which could see masks and working from home
mandated again.

But he did not put a firm figure on the threshold that would trigger
the return of restrictions when he announced the contingency plans
earlier this week.

The latest figures suggest the standard Covid hospital numbers have
become a less reliable way of gauging the outbreak and NHS pressure.
"