Behind-the-scenes photos show life in overwhelmed COVID-19 ward

By Ashley Pemberton via SWNS

Incredible behind-the-scenes photos show the reality of life on a hospital's busy COVID-19 ward as the Omicron variant sweeps through Britain.

More than 120COVID-19 patients take up five wards at the Royal Preston Hospital after a spike in cases since the spread of theCOVID-19 variant.

Stretched medics already facing the traditionally busy winter period are now also feeling extra demand on their services.

And the hospital has been hit by personnel shortages as more than double the normal amount of staff are absent through sickness for the time of year again due toCOVID-19.

"The first couple of weeks in January are always our busiest time of the year," said Kevin McGee, chief executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust, which runs the hospital.

"But on top of that, we’ve got two other things which are causing an immense pressure.

“Firstly, we’ve got, as of today, approximately 120 patients in our beds withCOVID, so that’s 4-5 wards completely taken out with COVID patients.

"And in addition to that, we’ve got significant staff sickness as well, so our sickness levels are running at about 10 percent. That’s double what would normally be for this time of year, and again, that’s Covid-related."

Of the 124 patients in hospital withCOVID-19 last week, four needed the use of a mechanical ventilator.

Five patients died at the hospital last week within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test.

A specialist nightingale surge hub has been set up to help deal with the rise in cases.

The temporary hospital structure is built on one of the hospital’s parking lot and will provide 100 extra bed spaces if more capacity is needed.

Behind the scenes photos show life on a COVID-19 ward at Royal Preston Hospital. (Lancashire Post via SWNS)

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As yet, it has not been used and the Trust has not declared a major incident like its neighboring trusts in Morecambe Bay and Blackpool.

ButCOVID-19 transmission in Lancashire is projected to go up for the next few weeks and McGee is concerned more admissions could overwhelm services.

"I’m hopeful that we won’t have to declare an incident but I have to say that we are incredibly busy - it’s the busiest I’ve known the NHS at this period of year," he said.

“My hope is that we never have to use it.

"We’re planning for it, and that’s quite right because we need to make sure that we put the appropriate capacity in place should we need it, but I’m hopeful we can manage within our core bed base.”

In preparation for a surge, the hospital’s restaurant and two physio gyms are also currently under renovation, ensuring that they can become back-up wards if needed.