Coronavirus patients at Chesterfield Royal Hospital now DOUBLE number seen in April peak

The Royal is currently providing care for ‘around 150’ people suffering from the deadly disease.

Fifteen people are receiving critical care at the hospital, which has an intensive care bed capacity of 21.

A spokesperson told the Derbyshire Times: “At the present time we continue to experience extremely high demand on our services, both with the usual winter pressures we’d normally see at this time of year and with cases of COVID-19.

"With around 150 patients confirmed positive for coronavirus at the moment, we have double the number on our wards we saw at the height of the pandemic in April 2020.”

NHS England data, correct as of January 19, shows 265 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded at Chesterfield Royal Hospital since the pandemic hit.

According to the latest available data, there were 377 cases per 100,000 people in Chesterfield in the seven days to 15 January. The average area in England had 432.

The spokesperson added: "Our staff are providing exceptional care in challenging circumstances and our operational plans are enabling us to be flexible – so we can adapt at pace.

"We would urge our communities to continue to follow the guidelines of the national pandemic, to practice ‘hands, face and space’ to help to protect the NHS. We thank them for everything they are continuing to do, right now, to support our hospital and primary care services.”