COVID-19: Pandemic ‘Just Beginning’ For Overwhelmed Community Nurses As Patient Numbers Rise | UK News

Community nurses told Sky News for them that the pandemic was just beginning – as they prepared to deal with the increase in the number of cases at home.

Community nurses in south-east London say they are seeing a sharp increase in the number of patients with complex health needs as a direct and indirect result of the pandemic.

The positive impact of the country’s immunization program on COVID-19[female[feminine can be seen in the huge reduction in critically ill patients who need urgent hospital care.

But now, as the pressures on hospitals begin to ease, the pressure on community nursing teams is starting to increase.

Patients with long-term COVID will need to be cared for – and many of them will need to be cared for at home by community nurses.

Teams working within the Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust are already reporting an increase in referrals for patients who need respiratory support, occupational therapy and diabetes while managing existing pre-pandemic cases.

Harriet Webster, a nurse specializing in respiratory care, told Sky News that ways to manage a growing number of cases will need to be found.

She said: “I think we’ve even seen an increase in referrals to our services over the past few months and year. I think we actually have to look for ways to deal with this.

“Community sites are really good at caring for patients and managing their expectations, but I think in the long term the services are going to have to grow to meet the demand.”

Pam Bass is one of Ms. Webster’s existing patients. She suffers from COPD – a chronic lung disease – and needed an oxygen supply before COVID.

Ms. Bass suffered a stroke on Boxing Day. Very soon after …