The trust that runs Guy’s and St Thomas’ says its hospitals are reducing ‘non-essential services’ in response to the rising number of Covid-19 cases.
The trust, which runs Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Evelina London children’s hospital as well as Royal Brompton and Harefield in west London, said urgent services are still running and people should still come for their appointments if they are already booked.
About ten per cent of Guy’s and St Thomas’ staff were off sick earlier this week. Across London, some 3,900 staff were off work because of Covid, according to official figures.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ had 75 people in hospital suffering from Covid-19 on December 14, the latest figures available – a big increase on the previous week. This figure may have risen further in the weeks since.
A spokesperson for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our services remain open for those who have an urgent health need and if you have an appointment you should attend.
“In response to the rising number of Covid cases, we have taken the difficult decision to start to reduce some non-essential services, which is being looked at service by service, and the best way the public can help is to continue to come forward for their vaccine, including booster doses.”