A NORTH EAST hospital trust has said it is now treating Covid patients which are younger than ever before - with the majority of them unvaccinated.

The South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has released the worrying picture which shows that it is now caring for 87 Covid patients - up by 71 in four weeks.

It comes as the North East continues to have the highest Covid infection rate in the country, with the case rate at 619.6 cases per 100,000 people.

The trust, which runs hospitals including James Cook in Middlesbrough and The Friarage in Northallerton, said most patients had no vaccine or just one dose.

In a letter provided to the Redcar MP Jacob Young, the trust's chief executive Sue Page said it continued to provide care for patients younger than seen in previous waves.

The Northern Echo:

Confirming that infection rates had started to reduce in some areas, Ms Page said it still expected to see patient numbers remain the same for the next few weeks.

In the letter, she said: "Today our doctors and nurses were providing care for 87 patients with Covid-19, of which 12 were receiving critical care.

"The majority of patients receiving hospital care with us at this time have Covid pneumonitis as their primary illness.

"The patients our doctors and nurses are providing Covid-care for are younger than those seen in previous waves and most have had no vaccine or only one dose which is why it is so important to get double-jabbed."

Ms Page goes on to say that is clinicians are prepared if rates start to rise beyond their current level.

She said "The reduction which we have seen in community infection rates in recent days is encouraging and everyone hopes that it continues, but our clinicians are of course prepared if rates against start to rise.

"The time-lag behind community infection rates and the number of people who go on to need hospital care means that (in the absence of any further rise in community infection rates) we expect to see patient numbers remain broadly the same for at least the next few weeks.

"As you know, the decisions taken by our experienced doctors and nurses to separate our hospital pathways has meant cancer and other urgent care has continued throughout the pandemic."

Mr Young encouraged those still waiting to have their first and second dose of the Covid vaccine to do so to "save lives" and "ease the pressure" on the region's hospitals.

On social media, he said: "This is why it's important to get your jab - and then to get your second jab.

"It could save your life, and will help ease the pressure on our hospitals so they can focus on people who need their care."

Latest vaccination figures published by the Government show that the North East has seen 82.6 percent of the eligible population take up their first dose of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, the figures which are from the 24 hours to July 27 show that 67.1 percent of those eligible in the region have now had their second dose.

Nationally, the figures show that across England 88.2 percent of the population eligible have had their first dose - 70.7 percent have had their second.

It means the North East remains tracking slightly below the average.

Earlier this month and as almost all restrictions unlocked, Alex Cunningham, Labour MP for Stockton North said he was concerned over figures showing vaccine uptake among younger cohorts across the Tees Valley had been "dropping off."

Read more: The eight North East areas with some of the HIGHEST Covid rates in the country

 

He said: "We must all do our bit to protect ourselves and those around us as infections rise by continuing to wear masks in enclosed spaces and making sure we get both doses of the vaccine. 

 

“Fortunately Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group are making it as easy as possible to access vaccinations with lots of drop-in clinics - I would encourage everyone who has not yet had both doses to check their website for information about these vaccination sites."

At the time and as restrictions were eased, Mr Young urged people to continue to "take sensible precautions" in order to limit the spread.

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