Covid: pressure on Bristol hospital causing 'challenging' period

A city hospital says it is a particularly challenging time as slotxo teams try to cope with rising patient numbers and staff being required to isolate.

Dr Lailah Dare compared the current situation at Southmead Hospital in Bristol to the traditionally busier winter period.

She said there had been an increase in Covid patients, along with those requiring regular treatments.

"We go through ups and downs but it's challenging at the moment," she said.

Dr Dare works as an emergency medicine consultant and described the situation as "a perfect storm" with many factors contributing to the busy period.

It comes as the daily number of Covid cases recorded in the UK fell for the seventh consecutive day on Tuesday.

However, there were a further 131 deaths reported within 28 days of a positive test, the highest daily number since March, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying people should "remain cautious".

Dr Dare continued: "We're seeing an increase of people with Covid, we're seeing people who are majorly injured and people who are very unwell.

"The heat does generate its own health issues and people are enjoying the post-lockdown phase so we're seeing a lot of minor injuries and illness as a result of that as well," she said.

Thousands of work days have been lost due to Covid at Bristol hospitals since the start of the pandemic.

Across June, an average of 49 staff a day were absent at North Bristol NHS Trust, which runs Southmead Hospital, after they contracted the virus or needed to self-isolate.