Chesterfield Royal Hospital reduces number of COVID wards as vaccinations start

This comes as the hospital – which was chosen as one of the 53 vaccination hubs to store and distribute the Pfizer vaccine – administered its first innoculations yesterday (December 8).

The number of COVID wards in the hospital increased to two during the second wave of the virus in Autumn.

Now, a spokesperson for the trust said: “With positive cases of COVID-19 at 30 (9 of these in critical care) we have gone back to one COVID-19 ward.

“We’re pleased to confirm that since March 1, 742 patients have returned home after care and treatment.

"Sadly though, since March 23, 200 people have now passed away after contracting the illness - on top of underlying health conditions and long term health conditions.

First people receive coronavirus vaccine at Chesterfield Royal Hospital

"Our hearts go out to everyone in our communities who’ve lost a loved-one during the pandemic.”

Last week in Chesterfield Royal there were 47 COVID patients, with 13 in intensive care.

And at the virus’ peak in April there were 75 beds at Chesterfield Royal occupied by coronavirus patients. 17 of these were in intensive care units.

The decline in the number of patients with COVID-19 in hospitals reflects a fall in the infection rate in Chesterfield, which currently stands at 136.3 per 100,000 people. This means that 143 new cases were recorded in the latest week on record, which is the seven days to December 3.

The spokesperson added: “You’ll know from national news that the biggest vaccine campaign in NHS history kicked off [on December 8].

“Giving a vaccine to millions of people in the UK is a mammoth task and it is for us too - presently we’ll have the ability to deliver 975 doses in five day windows. That’s the size of each batch we can order in once a week.

Coronavirus map shows the one area of Chesterfield that is now almost coronavirus free

"The life-saving vaccine is typically delivered by a simple injection in the shoulder but there is a complex logistical challenge involved to get it to the patient.

“Each person we vaccinate has to be assessed by a pharmacist, before the vaccine can be prescribed. Only then do people go through to the team of vaccinators.”