I was initially surprised and disappointed by Sevenoaks being placed into Tier 3 this morning. However, since the announcement I have spent the day speaking to our local hospitals and health ministers, and the need for the heightened restrictions has become clear. I will go through the data in detail to help explain why I've come to this conclusion.
The latest data records cases up to 22nd November across the Sevenoaks District, and it confirms we have a 7-day rate of 153.2 per 100,000 population. While this is significantly below the average for Kent, which currently sits at 273.5 per 100,000 population, it is still high, and these figures alone for the district would place us in tier 2. We also have some areas which are struggling more than others which is a real concern:
- West Kingsdown – 351.4 per 100,000 per population
- Swanley West – 330.9 per 100,000 population
- Swanley East and Hextable - 292.0 per 100,000 population
- Swanley South and Crockenhill has a rate of 273.7 per 100,000 population
While these figures are important, it was ultimately the capacity pressure in our hospitals which convinced me of the need for the tougher tier 3 status:
- Pembury is currently at 90% capacity and Darent Valley is full - but trying to add additional beds to keep up with demand. All 15 of the intensive care beds in Darent Valley are occupied and they are using mutual aid (where other hospitals pick up some of their intensive care demand)
- Medway and Swale have some of the highest case rates of COVID in the entire country and as a result the NHS in Medway and Swale is deploying full 'business continuity measures’, which basically means they have declared a major incident and can no longer accept new cases. As a result, Pembury, in particular, is taking a number of cases from wider Kent, with a third of its critical care patients diverted from other areas. At times up to 20% of ambulance admissions at Darent Valley have been diverted from elsewhere
- Both have had to start cancelling some elective operations
- The number of patients being admitted with COVID continues to increase daily. In the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust (the NHS Trust that manages Pembury Hospital and Maidstone hospital) five of the 20 operating theatres available have had to close so staff can be redeployed to the wards
Given this situation, there is simply no leeway in our hospital capacity, and it is vital that we use every tool possible to prevent a further rise in cases from their already high base locally. This means that I have reluctantly accepted that tier 3 is necessary for our area at present.
The Government has pledged to review our status in two weeks. If there is a reduction in pressure on our hospitals, I will push very hard for us to return to a district level tier system in Kent.
Tomorrow I will be updating my website with the new guidelines, however in the meantime should you have any questions please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#high-alert, or contact my office on laura.trott.mp@parliament.uk.