Coronavirus: NI Health Trust chief insists ‘we will cope’ as record surge in intensive care patients continues

The chief executive of the Northern Trust has insisted hospitals will cope with the surge in intensive care patients expected in the coming days.
By Niall Deeney
Published 20th Jan 2021, 20:56 BST
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 20th January 2021 . Jennifer Welsh, Chief Executive of the Northern Trust, pictured at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 20th January 2021 . Jennifer Welsh, Chief Executive of the Northern Trust, pictured at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 20th January 2021 . Jennifer Welsh, Chief Executive of the Northern Trust, pictured at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Jennifer Welsh appeared alongside Health Minister Robin Swann at a Stormont press conference yesterday to update the public on the pressures on the hospital system from the surge in coronavirus patients.

“Trust services remain under significant pressure this week, with further rises in ICU (intensive care unit) already experienced this week – and more we expect,” she said.

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“All trusts are and will continue together to best manage this surge and also to ensure the resources we have are used to best effect.”

She added: “We are confident that we will be able to cope with the expected numbers, but that has come at great cost.”

The latest figures from the Department of Health at Stormont show that there are 832 coronavirus patients in hospital.

Of that total, 67 are in intensive care with 57 on ventillators.

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Even during the worst of the first wave of the pandemic in the spring, the number of coronavirus patients who found themselves fighting for their lives in intensive care in Northern Ireland did not exceed 52.

Right now, coronavirus patients in ICU outnumber patients in intensive care for all other health conditions combined.

The figures from the Stormont health department show that there are a total of 155 intensive care beds available across the entire health service in Northern Ireland at present — with 117 of those filled by both covid and non-covid patients.

Health Minister Robin Swann told the BBC earlier this week that the total capacity could rise to 200 beds with staff being redeployed from other parts of the health service, and the ratio of staff-to-patients lowered in the face of extreme pressure.

Related topics:Robin SwannNorthern IrelandICUDepartment of Health