Hospitals say they are prepared for second wave of Covid-19 in Northamptonshire

The CEO of Northamptonshire's two main hospitals says he is concerned the Covid-19 second wave currently hitting parts of the UK is heading for the county.

Simon Weldon revealed more deaths among coronavirus patients are due to be added to the two already confirmed at Kettering General Hospital since last Wednesday.

But he insists NHS staff at Kettering and Northampton General Hospital are doing their utmost to keep regular services going during the winter.

Mr Weldon admitted: "One of my main concerns is that patients don't delay seeking treatment when they are ill, perhaps worried they have cancer or need an elective operation.

"I'm focused on making sure we are capable of dealing with Covid but don't want to forget about patients who need operations over the next few months.

"My message is: If you are worried and you need treatment, don't stay away. Our staff are making fantastic efforts to make sure hospitals are safe spaces to come to."

Simon Weldon has been chief executive at Kettering General Hospital since April 2018 and this summer named the new CEO of the joint management team running both the county's acute hospitals.

Yesterday's NHS bulletin confirmed the death of a Covid-19 patient at KGH on Monday. Another fatality last Wednesday was the first in Northamptonshire since August 25.

Reports from harder hit areas of the UK have revealed hospitals dealing with more Covid-19 cases than during the first wave of the pandemic in March and Liverpool's Director of Public Health admitted local intensive care beds are already 90 per cent full.

Mr Weldon added: "At the moment we are seeing relatively low levels of Covid patients in the hospitals — currently seven in Kettering and nine in Northampton — but we are not complacent about what's going on.

"We are continuing to see deaths in hospitals. Even since those latest numbers were collated we have sadly had some more deaths which will be reported in future updates.

"This is very much a real issue in our communities and I would just encourage everybody to try and be socially responsible — hands, face and space.

"We are going to see cases continue to rise.

"Cases have risen in the north west and we know the virus moves around the country. It will eventually move back into Northamptonshire and we will see more admissions — hopefully less than we did in wave one but that is what we are gearing up for.

"My job is to follow science. I'm fortunate to be advised by some excellent clinicians and what they tell me is this is a real threat to our most vulnerable elderly people.

"But, equally, I do worry most about about those people who have stayed away from hospital because they are worried about seeking treatment.

"Don't stay away. Our staff go the extra mile every day and if anything frustrates me it's wanting to know I've reached those people to say its safe to come in hospital, you can have your treatment and we are here for you, too."