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Home » NHS Is ‘Writing Off’ Patients Over 75 – Daily Mail Online

NHS Is ‘Writing Off’ Patients Over 75 – Daily Mail Online

The Health Service is writing off patients over 75 as a coronavirus death toll surpasses 100.

NHS England data shows that over the last week, more than 100 people have died after testing positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the pandemic, as recorded by the health service. The number is reportedly a high given the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, and is around 16% of England’s Covid-19 death toll.

More than 28,500 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the UK as of 6 pm on Tuesday, March 24.

England’s tally of coronavirus cases rose above 100,000 for the first time last week, with nearly 8,000 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours. Around 12,600 people are now in hospital. 

Worst-hit Areas

The number of people who have died after testing positive for Covid-19 in England climbed by 19 in the last 24 hours to reach 100. While more people are being tested, the death toll remains higher than in comparable countries. Some of the worst-hit areas are among Europe’s most populated cities. 

Sunderland’s death toll is now 11, while that of Manchester is now nine. The number of cases in each city has more than doubled since the start of the year. There have been 1,100 and 1,300 cases, respectively, in January and February so far.

Elsewhere in the UK, the number of deaths in Birmingham and Northampton have both increased. The death of a British tourist in Thailand in early March has been linked to Covid-19. 

Oldest And Weakest

The data also shows that the majority of those who have died are elderly people and, in some cases, have suffered from underlying health issues such as heart disease and diabetes. The UK’s oldest person, Doris May Cunningham, has died of coronavirus-related pneumonia. She was 110 years old. 

New research shows that people aged over 75 and with underlying medical problems are most at risk of serious complications from the virus. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, looked at cases in China and found that patients in that age group with underlying conditions are 29 times more likely to suffer serious complications from Covid-19 than those without such issues. 

In the UK, around 85% of Covid-19 patients have underlying health conditions. While around 15% of cases are now classified as severe, with intensive care needed, the number of people in this group has doubled in the last 24 hours to around 7,000. 

Public Health England data shows that while the number of cases has fallen since peaking in early March, the amount of severe illness continues to increase. More than 250 people have now been rushed to hospital from a Covid-19-related collapse. 

Longer Hospitalisation

The pandemic has led to long hospital stays for many people. In some cases, those who have recovered have spent several weeks in hospital. 

In England, 42.6% of Covid-19 patients are now in hospital, compared to 20.5% a year ago. In Wales, the figures are 38.9% and 25.5%, respectively. Across the UK, those in hospital have been placed in long-stay facilities due to a lack of available beds in more than 600 hospitals. More than 17,000 people in the UK are in hospital at present, more than 5,300 in a ward setting and nearly 8,600 in intensive care units. Around 12.9 million people are under some form of quarantine in the UK. 

Deaths From Other Causes

The pandemic has also led to a rise in deaths from other causes. The Office for National Statistics data shows that, between January and March this year, there were 14.9 million deaths globally, more than 3.1 million in Europe and the UK. The most common causes of death in Europe in 2019 were cancer (7.6 million), cardiovascular disease (6.4 million) and respiratory disease (3.9 million). 

Many patients who suffer from cardiovascular disease are now at risk of complications from Covid-19. Patients with cardiovascular disease are more likely to experience severe symptoms of the virus and be dead by the time they reach 40. A Hospital UK survey of 500 patients found that one in five had to be discharged from hospital because of health problems that had nothing to do with Covid-19. These included heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes. More than one in 10 had to be transferred to another hospital as a result of complications from a previous health condition.

Worst Since 1968

The death toll from Covid-19 in the UK now stands at 121, with more than 27,400 cases recorded. The data from the Health Service in England also shows that cases have more than doubled in the last seven days, and there have been more than 1,300 deaths during this period. The number of cases in the UK now stands at 121, a fall of 11 since Monday, with 27,400 cases recorded. There were 3,200 cases and 99 deaths on Monday, March 23. Deaths have now increased by 19 in the last 24 hours to reach 121, the lowest number of deaths since 1968, when there were 111 deaths from Covid-19.

While the number of cases continues to increase, the trend for deaths has now shifted, with the UK reaching a new low since Covid-19 was first detected in the country. In fact, the number of deaths is now 41% below that of comparable countries. While fatalities have increased by 19 in the last 24 hours to reach 121, the number of cases has now decreased by 11, with 27,400 cases recorded. 

On Saturday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the government will introduce a 14-day quarantine for everyone who returns from Europe, where the pandemic is now widespread. Those who break the rules could be fined or even imprisoned. The UK government also put in place restrictions for those who have visited Italy in the last fortnight. Travelers will be required to self-isolate for two weeks upon their return, even if they have no signs of infection.

In mainland Europe, the number of cases continues to increase. More than 86,000 cases have now been recorded across Europe, with 4,500 deaths. Cases have now surpassed 100,000 in Spain and 200,000 in Italy, which has seen the largest number of fatalities. Since the start of the year, cases across Europe have increased by 47%, according to data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In Spain alone, there are now 111,500 cases and more than 5,600 deaths. 

Elsewhere in the world, more than 500,000 cases have been recorded in North America, and over 150,000 fatalities. In South America, there are now more than 26,000 cases with nearly 3,900 deaths. In Africa, there are more than 13,000 cases and 1,600 deaths. As of 6 pm on March 24, there were 1.7 million cases and 128 fatalities in Australia.

Few Vaccine Trials

The UK government has so far declined to publish the results of its vaccine trial. However, the data from the trial suggests that the vaccine, called ChimeriVax, is not yet ready for widespread use. The vaccine’s trial leader, Professor Mark Laherty, told Reuters that the results showed the vaccine was ‘not very effective’ and was ‘nowhere near’ what was needed to be considered for widespread use. The vaccine needs to be administered twice, three months apart, to be effective. 

Budget Cutbacks

The cost of the NHS has been heavily cut since 2010, with health budgets in real terms now 17% below what they were in 2008. The amount of cash the health service receives from the government now represents less than 3.5% of GDP. The government has announced a 15% real-terms cut to the NHS budget for 2021. The aim is to put the health service on a more sustainable footing, and ensure that it is there for the nation when the next wave of the pandemic hits.