Danish hospitals challenged as number of Covid-19 patients quadruples
The number of Covid-19 inpatients in the Hovedstaden (Greater Copenhagen) healthcare region has almost quadrupled since the beginning of December, resulting in concerns over capacity.
The Greater Copenhagen healthcare region currently has 389 patients admitted with the coronavirus – a steep increase from the 103 patients who were hospitalised at the beginning of December.
The total number of Covid-19 inpatients at Denmark currently stands at 713, the highest level throughout the pandemic.
Healthcare bosses in the region are now working to increase capacity for coronavirus patients, because the number of patients has broken through existing contingency planning to ensure there were enough beds for people admitted with the virus.
“The total number of Covid patients has blown up the contingency plan for hospital admissions. The region’s crisis management is working to increase capacity and ensure that hospitals can accommodate both Covid and other patients who need treatment,” Region Hovedstaden said in a statement.
Last week, the healthcare authority decided to postpone all non-acute treatments scheduled for the three weeks beginning on December 21st, in order to create space for Covid-19 patients.
The region’s previous contingency plan allowed for 360 coronavirus patients, at the highest level, Ritzau reports. As such, that plan is no longer sufficient.
Cancer patients in the region and others in need of intensive care could be treated in the Syddanmark (Southern Denmark) region, an official said on Tuesday, while also confirming beds had been added for coronavirus patients.
The two regions are in discussion over a temporary arrangement to send patients from the capital to southern Denmark, if capacity needs increase. Patients requiring cancer surgery could be among those relocated, DR reports.
“The plan we have made for Christmas is that we have increased by 200 beds in relation to the level we otherwise had. We think we can get through Christmas and New Year with that,” Region Hovedstaden medical director Dorthe Crüger said.
READ ALSO: ANALYSIS: Why has the number of Covid-19 cases in Denmark increased so quickly?
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The Greater Copenhagen healthcare region currently has 389 patients admitted with the coronavirus – a steep increase from the 103 patients who were hospitalised at the beginning of December.
The total number of Covid-19 inpatients at Denmark currently stands at 713, the highest level throughout the pandemic.
Healthcare bosses in the region are now working to increase capacity for coronavirus patients, because the number of patients has broken through existing contingency planning to ensure there were enough beds for people admitted with the virus.
“The total number of Covid patients has blown up the contingency plan for hospital admissions. The region’s crisis management is working to increase capacity and ensure that hospitals can accommodate both Covid and other patients who need treatment,” Region Hovedstaden said in a statement.
Last week, the healthcare authority decided to postpone all non-acute treatments scheduled for the three weeks beginning on December 21st, in order to create space for Covid-19 patients.
The region’s previous contingency plan allowed for 360 coronavirus patients, at the highest level, Ritzau reports. As such, that plan is no longer sufficient.
Cancer patients in the region and others in need of intensive care could be treated in the Syddanmark (Southern Denmark) region, an official said on Tuesday, while also confirming beds had been added for coronavirus patients.
The two regions are in discussion over a temporary arrangement to send patients from the capital to southern Denmark, if capacity needs increase. Patients requiring cancer surgery could be among those relocated, DR reports.
“The plan we have made for Christmas is that we have increased by 200 beds in relation to the level we otherwise had. We think we can get through Christmas and New Year with that,” Region Hovedstaden medical director Dorthe Crüger said.
READ ALSO: ANALYSIS: Why has the number of Covid-19 cases in Denmark increased so quickly?
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