COLCHESTER Hospital is bracing itself for the “inevitable surge” of activity expected over the coming weeks.

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust confirmed two patients undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at Colchester Hospital died within the past few days.

The deaths are the third and fourth confirmed casualties of the virus at the hospital.

A source told the Gazette there are more than 60 patients awaiting test results.

It is also understood a number of patients are undergoing treatment in the hospital’s intensive care unit and have been placed on ventilators, though this has not been confirmed by the trust.

In a message to Gazette readers, the trust’s chief executive Nick Hulme said these are unprecedented times for everyone working in the NHS.

“It is a rapidly changing situation,” he said.

“The safety of our staff and our patients is, and always will be, our highest priority.

“Across our services and hospital sites our staff are working tirelessly to prepare us for the inevitable surge of activity that we will experience over the next few weeks and possibly months.

“We are all coming together to do our very best in those preparations."

On Thursday evening, households across the country showed their support for the NHS by clapping together at the stroke of 8pm.

“The team spirit I have already witnessed is outstanding and we have been overwhelmed by the support and kindness shown to us by the communities we serve.

“We know the challenges our teams are facing are like none they will have dealt with before, but we are working hard to support them.

“We have set up a dedicated staff helpline which runs from 6am to 8pm.

“Our wellbeing service which includes mental health first aiders, is supporting colleagues with any worries.”

Fears have been raised about a potential lack of protective equipment for frontline staff.

Mr Hulme said the hospital would continue to follow national advice from Public Health England and added: “I would urge anyone with concerns to share them with us. We are listening.

“I understand our staff, like colleagues up and down the country, are concerned about Personal Protective Equipment.

“The trust continues to follow the national advice from Public Health England for the use of PPE for our staff.”