No coronavirus deaths at Harrogate hospital for a month

Today is the first time that Harrogate District Hospital has gone a full month without reporting a single coronavirus death.

It has been a long road to this point. The hospital reported its first covid-19 death on March 20 and the most recent – the 82nd – on July 19. That patient died four days earlier on July 15.

The district hospital said at the end of July that it had no coronavirus positive patients for the first time since the start of the pandemic. It has not revealed since whether it has taken on any new patients.

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This is the longest time that the hospital has gone without reporting a coronavirus death. The second longest time was for 16 days at the start of July.

Now Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust faces a different challenge. The trust is trying to get as many people as possible to sign up to the local coronavirus vaccine trial.

Despite there being no coronavirus deaths for a month the NHS has extended its contract to keep NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and the Humber as a hospital until March 2021.

That move may not have gone down well with those in the events and hospitality sector locally but the NHS wants to stay prepared in case a second wave hits in winter.

Big take-up for coronavirus vaccine trial in Harrogate district

Nearly 1,400 people have signed up to the coronavirus vaccine trial – forcing local NHS trusts to increase capacity.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust originally said that there was room for 2,250 people and said that it could increase capacity to 6,000.

So far, more than 6,600 people have signed up to the trial across Leeds, Harrogate and York.

The biggest uptake has been in Leeds where close to 4,000 people have signed up. It is the highest uptake for local authorities in the UK.

Dr Jacqueline Andrews, the executive medical director at Harrogate NHS FT, said:

“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has signed up to the campaign so far. So many people from the Harrogate district have signed up already. We really appreciate your support.”

Dr Phil Wood, Chief Medical Officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust added:

“An effective vaccine against the coronavirus is key. It’s important for large-scale vaccine studies that we get as many people as possible from our community to sign up to take part.”

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The trusts are considering different locations throughout Leeds, Harrogate, and York for the trial. They are keen to use spaces like sports halls, away from hospitals.

Around 70 staff will spend three days in each location, aiming to give 250 vaccines with each person having a 90-minute consultation. The trial will start at the end of September.

To register interest in the vaccine trial visit the NHS vaccine research website by clicking or tapping here.

How does a vaccine study work?

The NHS may give those who have signed up for the trial a vaccine or a placebo. Either way, participants will need to visit the research site a few times over the next six to 12 months.

At each of those visits, the staff will talk about the research study, take blood tests and answer any questions.

Between visits, participants will need to tell staff about any symptoms and may need to take a throat or nose swab every week while keeping a diary.

Harrogate hospital receives £527,000 to upgrade A&E department

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has received £527,000 in funding to help increase capacity at Harrogate hospital’s accident and emergency department.

The money comes as part of a £300 million funding pot announced by the government for hospital trusts across the country.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said 117 trusts will be granted the extra money to prepare for winter and further outbreaks of coronavirus.

A total of £53 million has been handed to 21 trusts across the North East and Yorkshire, with Harrogate receiving £527,000.

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As part of the funding, hospital bosses in Harrogate said the money will go towards modernising the A&E department and improve other facilities such as x-rays.

Jonathan Coulter, director of finance and deputy chief executive at the hospital trust, said:

“We’re really pleased to have received this investment. It will go towards modernising our emergency department at Harrogate District Hospital, giving us enhanced capacity ahead of winter.

“It means we will be able to adapt our space to better facilitate social distancing. The money will also go towards improving our diagnostic facilities, including x-ray provision.

“Hospital staff are currently working very hard to provide safe care for patients in environments which we’ve carefully had to adapt and reorganise as a result of the pandemic. They’re doing a brilliant job. 

“This money allows us to properly invest and will put us in a better place before winter.”

Meanwhile, Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, said the money will help to put the hospital in a good position ahead of winter.

He said:

“Winter may seem a long way off but planning ahead is essential if we want our NHS to cope with the additional pressures that cold weather brings. In addition to those seasonal pressures we can expect the covid-19 pandemic to still be with us although hopefully in a much reduced and more contained way.

“Our local NHS services are highly-rated by users; our staff are talented and dedicated professionals praised by the Care Quality Commission as outstanding for their caring approach. We need to ensure that facilities like A&E match the public expectation and the professionalism of our staff.  This investment will enable that expectation to be met during a time of peak pressure.

“So while we hope for the best this winter, it’s right that we plan for the worst. This funding to upgrade A&E across the trust will ensure that we are in the best possible position for the challenges that the winter months may bring.”

Coronavirus vaccine trial rolled out for hundreds in Harrogate

The NHS is starting to roll out a coronavirus vaccine trial with hundreds of places available for people in Harrogate.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has launched an appeal for the trial in partnership with Harrogate NHS Foundation Trust.

The trusts are considering different locations throughout Leeds, Harrogate, and York for the trial. They are keen to use spaces like sports halls, away from hospitals.

Around 70 staff will spend three days in each location, aiming to give 250 vaccines with each person having a 90-minute consultation. The trial will start at the end of September.

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Currently, they have space for 2,250 people to trial the Imperial College London vaccine. With extra demand, the NHS could increase that to 6,000.

If the trials are successful then the vaccine could be offered to everyone in the country as early as next year.

To register interest in the vaccine trial visit the NHS vaccine research website by clicking or tapping here.

Julian Hartley, Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said:

“An effective vaccine against the coronavirus is a key strategy to end the devastating impact of the virus. We are working extremely hard to put together plans. Not only to trial vaccines in Leeds but to work alongside our partners in Harrogate and York.”

How close are we to a working vaccine?

The National Institute for Health Research has backed two coronavirus vaccines. Imperial College London is running one and the University of Oxford is running the other.

Imperial College London’s vaccine’s preclinical studies have shown that it helps to produce specific antibodies which fight coronavirus. Mice in the trial were able to neutralise the virus with the help of the vaccine – a positive sign for the battle against covid-19.

The government has pumped more than £40 million into the college’s vaccine development and that fund has been supplemented by £5 million in donations.

How does a vaccine study work?

The NHS may give those who have signed up for the trial a vaccine or a placebo. Either way, participants will need to visit the research site a few times over the next six to 12 months.

At each of those visits, the staff will talk about the research study, take blood tests and answer any questions.

Between visits, participants will need to tell staff about any symptoms and may need to take a throat or nose swab every week while keeping a diary.

Two further deaths at Harrogate district care homes

Care homes in the Harrogate district have recorded a further two coronavirus deaths – after two weeks of recording none for the first time in the pandemic.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures today, which cover up until July 24, show that care homes across the district have reported 106 deaths where coronavirus is the cause of death.

The figures also reveal that there have been five deaths at home, one death at a hospice, and two more deaths at “other communal establishments”, since the start of the outbreak.

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Meanwhile, Harrogate District NHS Foundation Trust remains at 82 coronavirus deaths and said last week that it was not treating any coronavirus patients in its wards.

For that reason, the Stray Ferret paused its daily reporting of the coronavirus statistics from NHS England. We will continue to monitor the information and report any deaths as they are confirmed.

The new ONS data revealed that there have been five extra deaths at the hospital where covid is mentioned on the death certificate. However, they are not part of the official statistics, which only include cases where the virus is the cause of death.

No coronavirus deaths at Harrogate hospital for two weeks

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths for the last two weeks.

It is the second-longest time the hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began, highlighting how the number of deaths has slowed in recent weeks.

The hospital has so far reported 82 coronavirus deaths and released 141 people after treatment for covid.

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Care homes figures for the Harrogate district, released yesterday, showed the number of deaths since the start of the pandemic remains at 104.

NHS England figures today showed that a further 14 people who had tested positive for coronavirus have died, including three in the North East and Yorkshire. They were aged between 55 and 90, and all but two had known underlying health conditions.

Councillors clash over free parking pledge for NHS workers

North Yorkshire councillors clashed over a proposed pledge to encourage NHS hospital trusts to keep on-site parking free for staff.

Lib Dem Cllr Geoff Webber put forward a motion today to support free parking and claimed two Conservative councillors spoiled it.

Cllr Richard Cooper, also the leader of Harrogate Borough Council, put forward an amendment that removed all references to free parking.

The amendment instead said the council “supports and encourages measures which enable their staff to travel to and from work sustainably.”

Harrogate District Hospital confirmed that parking will remain free for staff, visitor and patients. The trust said that after national reports that the government planned to scrap it.

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The Department for Health and Social Care said in response to the speculation that free parking will be in place for staff “during the pandemic.” It did not make reassurances beyond that.

Cllr Geoff Webber hit out at Cllr Richard Cooper after the meeting today. He said:

“This is a typical Richard Cooper trick designed to spoil motions from any other party and a tactic he has used frequently on Harrogate Borough Council. I am disgusted at this sort of manipulation.”

It will now go to a scrutiny committee before going back to the council for a debate and vote. The Lib Dems said the outcome is a “foregone conclusion.”

The Stray Ferret approached Cllr Richard Cooper for a comment but received no reply by the time of publication.

One more coronavirus death at Harrogate District Hospital

News of this latest reported death on July 15th comes after eleven consecutive days without any coronavirus fatalities at the Hospital. It brings the total number of coronavirus deaths at the hospital to 82.

A further 8 people, who tested positive for the coronavirus have died in England, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 29,181. 2 of those patients were from Yorkshire and the North East.

The hospital trust said on Thursday that it had discharged a further two patients, taking the total up to 141.

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Patients were aged between 61 and 91 years old.   All patients had known underlying health conditions.

Harrogate hospital investigates bullying culture in estates department

Hospital bosses in Harrogate will launch an investigation into a “culture of bullying” in the trust’s estates department which some staff described as “toxic”.

Behaviour cited in a report included defacing tools or belongings with offensive graffiti, collectively ignoring or ostracising people and damaging belongings of individuals, including gluing of equipment or lockers.

It comes as Harrogate and District Foundation Trust commissioned consultancy firm Deloitte to carry out a review into the trust’s culture and leadership.

The review included Harrogate Integrated Facilities (HIF), a subsidiary of the trust which runs the hospital’s estates.

Following interviews with 52 members of staff and 63 surveys, the report found “widespread concerns” over bullying, leadership and poor recruitment practice in the estates department.

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The report said a “significant number” of those interviewed explicitly stated that bullying was taking place or described events that could be labeled as such. But, it added that it was concerned that some of the reports were dismissed as “banter”.

It said:

“We find it concerning that a significant number (over 20) of those interviewed from within estates dismissed the issues described above as ‘banter’, ‘childish pranks’ and ‘fine, a bit of a laugh’. 

“We were also concerned at the number of staff during interview who felt that some of the behaviours identified above could be excused, on the basis that it was felt recruitment processes had been mishandled or people ‘weren’t up to the job’ or ‘didn’t fit in’.”

Meanwhile, Deloitte found that the approach to recruitment at HIF “did not demonstrate good practice” and recommended a thorough review of its policies.

Among the findings included a number of applicants who were shortlisted and appointed without demonstrating essential criteria and some posts which were not advertised in line with policy.

Further concern was raised over the lack of leadership in estates, with 45 of the 52 members of staff raising concern over communication, decision making and senior management isolating themselves from other workers.

Steve Russell, chief executive of Harrogate Hospital

Steve Russell, Chief Executive of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said the hospital is committed to addressing the findings in the report.

Following the report, the trust board agreed launch an investigation which will be carried out by an external body into reported bullying and poor recruitment practice in the department.

Steve Russell, chief executive at the hospital trust, said the organisation was committed to addressing the findings in the report.

He said: 

“Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust is a values driven organisation; Respectful, Responsible and Passionate. We emphasise the need to treat each other with kindness, civility and compassion. Our strategy is focused on the pursuit of quality improvement and we believe that improving the experience of all our colleagues will lead to better care for our patients.

“To help further improve in delivering the best possible employee experience and in turn the best possible patient experience, a specialist team from Deloitte were commissioned in August 2019 to undertake a neutral assessment and to help us understand in more detail views of which areas we should and could improve upon.

“Deloitte found many important positives about the trust as a place to work and the culture that is fostered. Almost everyone they spoke with described the trust as a ‘great place to work’ and described the culture using words such as ‘friendly’ and ‘family’. Many who had worked elsewhere in the NHS compared the Trust positively to their other experiences.

“At the same time, Deloitte found areas in which there are issues that we need and want to address. We are naturally disappointed to hear this, but pleased, that now identified, we will be to create a better working environment for colleagues and become the outstanding place to work delivering the level of care that we all aspire to.

“We are committed to addressing the findings of Deloitte’s work. We have already put in place new measures to support individual services to develop, and we are taking specific actions to better support staff.”

No coronavirus deaths reported in Harrogate for six days

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any new coronavirus deaths for the last six days.

The last time the hospital recorded a death was on July 7. That came after more than two weeks without any deaths.

It means that Harrogate District Hospital remains on 81 deaths and 139 patient discharges after treatment for coronavirus.

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England’s hospitals reported that a further 11 people had died with coronavirus in today’s NHS figures.

Patients were aged between 72 and 95 years old. All patients had known underlying health conditions.