Inside Addenbrooke's Hospital as it battles back after the Covid-19 peak

Summary

Live updates from Addenbrooke's Hospital as it emerges from the post-Covid-19 peak
Hospital faces waiting list backlog after coronavirus pandemic
The hospital has about 14 patients with Covid-19 and none in critical care
'We're starting to get back into the normal work at the right time' - surgeon
Stories from patients and staff at one of the UK's leading hospitals
You can share your stories about Addenbrooke's Hospital by using the hashtag #hospitallivebbc on Twitter or by emailing eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

Live Reporting

Laurence Cawley, Phil Shepka, Orla Moore and Stuart Bailey

'Volunteers do what staff don't have time to do'published at 07:44 British Summer Time 30 July 2020
It’s not just hospital staff that have been at the coalface throughout the pandemic, an army of St John Ambulance volunteers have also been on hand.
At Addenbrooke’s Hospital its volunteers have given 4,000 hours since March, being used in the Emergency Department and the Urgent Treatment Centre.
Volunteer Dita Lee said they would do “the kind of thing the hospital staff just don’t have the time to do”, such as making refreshments for patients.
“One of the most important roles we’ve had to do is to look after all of the personal protective equipment (PPE)," she said.
"We’ve been making sure all of the departments are replenished, that anything they need is readily available for them.”
Donning and doffingpublished at 07:38 British Summer Time 30 July 2020
Laurence Cawley
BBC News
You learn something new every day.
Putting on and taking off personal protective equipment? Donning and doffing, of course.
'We're starting to get back into the normal work at the right time'published at 07:34 British Summer Time 30 July 2020
Dr Kanwalraj Moar is the director of women's and children's services and is in charge of the Rosie Maternity Hospital on the site.
Today she's returning to her first love: the operating theatre.
"As a cleft surgeon, I deal with little babies who have cleft lips and I have a couple of cases today," she said.
"For me, it's exciting because it's only my second full list. But it means we're starting to get back into the normal work at the right time."
Hospital to extend weekend surgery to clear lockdown backlogpublished at 07:29 British Summer Time 30 July 2020
Laurence Cawley
BBC News
Image source, PA Media
Addenbrooke's plans to make greater use of private hospitals and conduct more surgery at weekends to cut waiting list backlogs caused by coronavirus, it has emerged.
The hospital has 1,600 more people awaiting surgery than it did before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bosses hope to have 30 of the 37 operating theatres which were running before Covid-19 in use by mid-August.
The hospital's chief executive said "rebuilding" could take 12-18 months.
Read the full BBC story here.
How many people died from coronavirus in Cambridgeshire?published at 07:24 British Summer Time 30 July 2020
Matt Precey
BBC East
Data supplied by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicates 506 registered deaths from coronavirus in Cambridgeshire up until 25 July, across all settings including hospitals, care homes and hospices.
BBC East analysis of ONS figures suggests there were more than 600 extra deaths in Cambridgeshire between January and June 2020 compared to the average over the same period for the five previous years.
April and May saw the biggest increases of 65% and 32% respectively, compared to the five-year average.
The effects of coronavirus on patientspublished at 07:14 British Summer Time 30 July 2020
Orla Moore
BBC News
The trust said access to outpatients - people who visit the hospital for treatment or diagnosis - continued to be restricted through May with urgent referrals only available.
Routine referrals began a phased opening from 15 June and the trust is now delivering 75% of pre-Covid-19 attendances.
A significant amount of footfall was lost due to social distancing requirements and in addition a number of clinics were repurposed for other services during the crisis.
An early start - and a possible introduction to a catpublished at 07:07 British Summer Time 30 July 2020
Laurence Cawley
BBC News
It's a beautiful day here in Cambridge.
I've arrived at the main entrance and had a lovely welcome from the two security guards.
One of them tells me how she has been putting positive messages in with the masks, such as saying "have a lovely day".
She has also told me I have to meet Henry, a cat that has made the hospital it’s home.
But first, it's off to the adjoining Rosie Maternity Hospital. I'll be bringing you live updates throughout the day.
Addenbrooke's Hospital and coronaviruspublished at 07:05 British Summer Time 30 July 2020
Orla Moore
BBC News
Let's take a look at some numbers and facts surrounding Covid-19 at Addenbrooke's Hospital:
- At the peak of the pandemic, the trust had about 135 Covid-19 positive inpatients - recording an average of three a day
- The hospital is down to about 14 covid patients with none in critical care
- A&E attendances decreased from around 11,000 in March 2019 to 7,860 in March 2020
- There has been a large increase in remote, particularly telephone, consultations.
- While emergency surgery had continued, the majority of elective surgery was postponed as theatre staff were released to support Covid care.
- The trust tests 300 to 400 staff per day. To date, 2,626 members of staff have been tested and 90 (3.4%) had been Covid positive.
Image source, PA Media
Welcome to our 12 hours of live coverage from Addenbrooke's Hospital - from 07:00 to 19:00published at 07:00 British Summer Time 30 July 2020
Good morning from Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where we will be spending the rest of the day uncovering how it moves on following the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
We'll be speaking with clinicians, volunteers and patients about their experience of the past few months and asking about their hopes are for the future as the hospital battles waiting list backlogs.
We'd love you to get involved as well. If you have any stories you want to share about Addenbrooke's Hospital during the pandemic please use the hashtag #hospitallivebbc or email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk.