I came across this tweet from "Caroline Mansfield" about my local hospital being "empty".

So let's take a look:

First up, some warning signs:
1) A generic username, and another real Twitter account (I've emailed)
2) No registration with GCRN
3) Only recently joined Twitter

On to the Issues.

Issue No. 1: Barnet Hospital isn't actually IN Hertfordshire. It's in Barnet, with an Enfield postcode.

Which is confusing, but wouldn't be counted in Hertfordshire's hospital admission data.
Issue No. 2

Barnet is actually VERY busy with COVID cases, with 22% of our ENTIRE pandemic caseload in the LAST 7 DAYS ALONE

Source: https://t.co/IECfMo8FAK
Issue No. 3:

Barnet Hospital is seeing incredible pressures, the trust (The Royal Free Trust) has cancelled most non-urgent and routine work,

and as of 23rd Dec had admitted 244 patients with COVID, roughly half the peak of March, and climbing v. fast.
Issue No. 4
Even busier is Intensive Care - the whole trust only has 57 beds (23 - Barnet & 34 at the Royal Free Hospital).

As of 23rd Dec, 40 of them were occupied by COVID patients. That's 70% of the ENTIRE CAPACITY used up by COVID ALONE.

Source: https://t.co/zGmMSuoywN
Why is this a problem?

For every COVID patient in an ICU bed, another patient isn't - ICU takes routine complex operations, unwell ward patients, other emergencies and even transfers from other hospitals.

We can cancel operations, but can't stop the other unexpected patients.
And if you need ICU but do not get ICU, unfortunately you will most likely die.

This is why the mortality for COVID shoots up when resources locally are exceeded. Like in Lombardy in the Spring.
Lastly, the ambulance service is the busiest it's EVER been in London, with more calls than the first wave in the past few weeks.

And if they are eating sandwiches in their cab, that's their break. In their vehicle. Think about that a little bit more.
This kind of COVID denialism is not just Internet rubbish, it's dangerous and real and led us in part to the disaster we are in right now.

Do not RT, even to trash it. Block, report and move on.

And as ever, hands, face, space, fresh air and please, stay at home. /end

More from Health

🚨Important changes to lockdown/self-isolation regulations from 5pm

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers and Self-Isolation) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

£800 'house party' FPN & police can now access track & trace data

https://t.co/k9XCpVsXhC


“Large gathering offence”

As trailed by Home Secretary last week there is now a fixed penalty notice of £800 (or £400 if you pay within 14 days) for participating in an gathering of over 15 people in a private residence


Fixed Penalty Notices double for each subsequent “large gathering offence” up to £6,400

Compare:
- Ordinary fixed penalty notice is £200 or £100 if paid in 14 days
- Holding or being involved in the holding of a gathering of over 30 people is £10,000


Second big change:

Since September has been a legal requirement to sell-isolate if you test positive/notified by Track & Trace of exposure to someone else who tested positive

Police can now be given access to NHS Track & Trace data if for the purpose of enforcement/prosecution


This will make it easier for police to enforce people breaking self-isolation rules. Currently there has been practically no enforcement.

Data says only a small proportion of people meant to be self-isolating are fully doing so.

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