Shropshire major hospitals treating lowest number of Covid patients since November
The county's major hospitals are currently treating their lowest number of Covid patients since November, more 100 fewer than the January peak, it has been revealed.
The figures come as today marks a year to the day since the first case of Covid was confirmed in the county.
It has also emerged that Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which has been at the centre of the county's fight to save those stricken with the virus, is considering the creation of specialist new facilities to help prevent more patients dying from coronavirus.
The trust, which manages both Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, says it currently treating around 40 Covid patients.
That figure is considerably lower than the peak of 165 on January 29.
Since the pandemic began 578 people have died with Covid at the county's NHS trusts – the vast majority, 537, at SaTH.
SaTH Medical Director Dr Arne Rose has urged people to continue to follow guidelines in an effort to keep the number of cases falling.
Speaking in today's Shropshire Star he said: "Although there is light at the end of the tunnel, we have had our hope dashed before so, for now, we must continue to do everything asked of us to keep slowing the spread of the virus so that, hopefully, this time next year, this is just a memory."
It comes as a report from Dr Rose, to be considered by the SaTH board tomorrow, outlines how the number of patients admitted during the third wave had been a "significant increase", but that there is "emerging evidence" that the number of deaths had been lower than expected.
Dr Rose will tell the board that this may have been a result of "enhanced ventilation techniques" stopping people needing to go into intensive care.
Dr Rose has also said that a business case is being developed for the creation of a designated respiratory high dependency unit at the trust.
