Rise in Hampshire hospital admissions as Covid climbs in Winchester

The number of Covid patients at the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that includes the Royal Hampshire County Hospital has risen from 42 to 52 in the last week.

Winchester district remains amongst the worst 20 local authority areas out of 377 in the UK, according to the latest figures.

The eight areas are: Winchester West; Winchester Central and South; Stanmore; Oliver’s Battery and Hursley; Colden Common and Twyford; South Wonston, Sutton Scotney and Micheldever; Springvale and Itchen Abbas; and Bishop’s Waltham and Waltham Chase. All have cases above 800 people per 100,000 people and are marked black on the Government map.

More younger people are now being affected with many still to be vaccinated.

The spike is sparking concerns among county health chiefs who are urging people to practice good hygiene such as regular hand washing and wearing face coverings.

The average rate per 100,000 people has soared to 849, an increase of 18 per cent, in the seven days to October 21, according to the Press Association news agency.

But while the number of cases is rising fast there has only been one death from Covid-19 in the Winchester district since March, indicating that most people contracting the disease are young and in general good health.

The stats for Oliver's Battery and Hursley

In Winchester district in the seven days to Thursday October 21 there were 1,070 cases, up 164 on the previous seven days, or 18 per cent, for a rolling figure per 100,000 of 849, far above the Hampshire average of 667. October 21 is the most recent day for which localised figures are available.

The numbers are still rising in 11 places in the district, and falling in three indicating the sharp rises may be reaching a peak. Cases have doubled in the last seven days in Stanmore (103 per cent) and by 93 per cent in Winchester Central and South. There was a sharp fall in Alresford.

Oliver’s Battery and Hursley has the highest current rate for the seven days to October 21: 117 cases, up 27 (30 per cent) for 1,429 per 100,000.

Second is Colden Common and Twyford, 118 cases, up four (3 per cent) 1,230;

Third: Winchester West (Weeke and Fulflood), 109 cases, up 20 (22 per cent), 1,094;

Fourth: Stanmore, 65 cases, up 33 (103 per cent) 939;

Fifth: Winchester Central and South,104, up 50 (93 per cent), 928;

Sixth: South Wonston, Sutton Scotney and Micheldever, 54, up 16 (42 per cent) 912;

Seventh: Springvale and Itchen Abbas: 61, up 22 (56 per cent) 888;

Eighth: Bishop’s Waltham and Waltham Chase, 82, down three (3 per cent) 836.

The others are: Swanmore, Hambledon and West Meon, 66, down six (8 per cent) 749; Winchester North and Sparsholt: 72, up four (6 per cent) 736; Winchester East (Winnall, St Giles Hill, Highcliffe and Bar End) 55, up 15 (37 per cent) 678; Whiteley Knowle and Wickham 73 cases, up 16 (28 per cent) 621; Denmead and Southwick: 55, up three (6 per cent) 520; Alresford: 39, down 37 (49 per cent) 459.

The number of deaths in the Winchester district since the start of the pandemic is still 180, the 46th day with no change. It had been on 179 since March, meaning there has only been one death in seven months.

The stats for Winchester, now one of only two areas with more than 800 cases per 100,000. The other is Gosport

In total there have been 12,907 Covid cases in the Winchester district since the start of the pandemic. That is a rate per 100,000 people of 10,249, compared to the Hampshire figures of 148,001 and 10,653. Some 979 cases have been reported yesterday countywide, the first time in 12 days that the number has dropped below.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s most recent figures are 52 patients on Monday with Covid: 32 in Basingstoke, 20 at the RHCH. Last Monday the figure was 42, so a rise of some 25 per cent in seven days.

A spokesperson at Hampshire Hospitals said: “Our alert status often changes throughout the course of the day. However, at present, we are experiencing very high levels of demand across our hospitals, and our emergency departments (ED) continue to be busier than ever. Our staff are working incredibly hard to care for everyone who needs our help, and to ensure we can continue to safely care for everyone who needs urgent and emergency care.

“We are asking members of the community to help us by thinking about the best way to get the treatment you need; for instance, consider visiting your local pharmacy or use NHS 111 to help find the right service for you.

“Remember we are always here for you – always go to the emergency department for anything urgent or life threatening.”