Latest hospital figures show that there were more COVID-19 patients in Leeds hospitals this year than this time last year.
In the first week of 2022 there were 41% more COVID-19 patients in hospital than the first week of 2021, according to Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.
This is despite the fact that in 2021 there was a national lockdown to combat the spread of the virus.
While latest figures indicate that the number of patients admitted into hospitals across the UK with the omicron variant may be plateauing, in Leeds there were more people on mechanical ventilators in the first week of 2022 than 2021, when comparing the averages between the two weeks.
However the figures show some optimism, as the beginning of the second week of 2022 showed a decrease in the number of patients being admitted to Leeds hospitals. Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs yesterday that there were “encouraging signs that infections” were falling.
NHS Trusts do not release COVID-19 figures daily so it is only now that the public can see the data.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals runs the Leeds General Infirmary, St James’s University Hospital, and Chapel Allerton Hospital.
Yorkshire Voice reached out for comment from Leeds Teaching Hospitals but have not had a response.
Source: Healthcare in Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | Coronavirus in the UK (data.gov.uk)