Covid-19: Deaths rising in Southend and Basildon hospitals

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSE) reported 47 patients in its care had lost their lives to the deadly virus across the month.

MSE is calling on people to continue to respect the ‘hands, space, and face’ guidance and get their vaccinations – including booster jabs – to help slow the virus.

The trust has recorded the second most total deaths throughout the entirety of the pandemic, 2,545, behind only University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust – where there have been 2,919 deaths as of November 8.

Deaths at MSE hospitals have exploded in recent months, being as low as 11 in July and 29 in August to 59 in September and 47 in October.

However, deaths are far below the January 2021 peak, where at its worst point an average of 12 people were dying every seven days in Southend and nine people a week were losing their lives in Basildon.

Seven day death averages for both towns are currently closer to the 0.5 mark – it should be noted the trust figures are higher as its hospitals serve a wider population.

This latest surge in deaths matches rising infection rates – expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people – which have shot up in the last two months but have plateaued in both Basildon and Southend in recent weeks.

In Basildon the seven-day infection rate peaked at 500.1 on October 23 and has since gradually slid down to below 400 while in Southend peaked at 425.1 on October 19 and has oscillated between that figure and the 390 mark since.

A spokesperson for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The number of Covid-19 patients we’re caring for is increasing, and the evidence is clear that an increase in Covid patients in hospitals follows an increase in cases in the community.

“We’re asking people to accept their Covid booster when offered and have their flu vaccine, if eligible. Remember, hands, face and space help minimise the spread of Covid-19.”