NHS hospital oxygen supply has reached an “emergency situation” as staff handle a growing number of Covid-19 patients.
The NHS Essex Central and South Foundation trust said in a letter to staff that the amount of oxygen used to treat patients at Southend University hospital should be reduced.
The document, which was shown to the BBC, said: “We have reached a state of emergency with an oxygen supply. It is vital that we use oxygen safely and efficiently.
“All patients should have a target absorption of 88-92%. Patients with suction above 92% who have excreted their oxygen should be within the target range.
“I can assure you that keeping suction within this target area is safe and does not harm a patient as a result. It is essential that this is implemented immediately. ”
Yvonne Blucher, managing director of Southend hospital, said: “Demand for oxygen is high due to the number of Covid-19 inpatients and we are working to manage this. The public can do their part by staying at home and, where they cannot, following ‘hands-on, face-to-place’ advice to cut the spread of the virus. ”
Matters
Essex has some of the highest Covid-19 case rates in the country.
In the seven days to January 4, Southend had a rate of 1,234.7 new cases per 100,000 people, with 2,261 new cases registered.
The first NHS doctor died after contracting a coronavirus, Dr Habib Zaidi, at Southend hospital in March last year. The GP, who worked in Leigh-on-Sea, was 76.