Coronavirus is 'not hitting everyone fairly' says Sunderland council leader as city has highest infection rate in England

As Nightingale Hospital North East is officially opened, the leader of Sunderland City Council has addressed the need of the facility in case their is a second peak of the ‘killer virus’.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Centre for Cities says the latest figures from Public Health England show the city has more than 370 cases per 100,000 people – giving it the highest infection in England.

The majority of those included in the Public Health England figures have become so unwell with the virus that they have needed medical treatment and were therefore tested for the illness in hospital.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

According to the latest figures released on Monday, May 4, there has been 279 coronavirus-related deaths at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS trust.

Sunderland City Council Leader Coun Graeme Miller at the NHS Nightingale Hospital North East Sunderland City Council Leader Coun Graeme Miller at the NHS Nightingale Hospital North East
Sunderland City Council Leader Coun Graeme Miller at the NHS Nightingale Hospital North East

Graeme Miller, the leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "Covid-19 is not hitting everybody fairly. The ONS statistics the health statistics are now beginning to show that poorer areas are being hit at least twice as hard as more affluent areas.

Read More
See inside the new Nightingale Hospital

"It is frustrating but understandable when you look at the logic and the numbers of it all that you're twice as likely to catch Covid and/or die from it in the North East than Richmond.

Sunderland City Council Leader Coun Graeme MillerSunderland City Council Leader Coun Graeme Miller
Sunderland City Council Leader Coun Graeme Miller
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Part of that is the background to the North East, and to Sunderland specifically, we have an ageing population with many secondary health issues tied to the fact that Sunderland was a heavy industrial zone.

“And that gave all sorts of secondary health conditions to the workforce who are now retired.

“When you then look at ten years of austerity and the unintended consequence of it – because it wasn’t thought through properly in my opinion – and you’ve had 16,000 health beds come out of the NHS, tens of thousands of nurses and doctors and a £9billion black hole in adult social care. All of that has come home to roost and Sunderland, being a poor area, is one of the worst affected.

Opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital North EastOpening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital North East
Opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital North East

“There is nothing we can do about it other than try to ensure people who are impacted on by Covid-19 get the best care.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We have to have the political discussion and that row about whose fault it was once we dealing with people.”

It is hoped the hospital will never see a patient admitted with health bosses saying the facility, which has been converted into a 460-bed hospital, is an ‘insurance policy’.

But as the daily death toll drops throughout the UK there is a fear that easing lockdown measures too soon could cause a second spike of cases.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Miller added: “I think we have to be very careful about releasing lockdown too early. I know that there is concern about the economy because we don’t have one at the moment.

“But if people go back to work too quickly and in too big a number – and if we don’t have enough contact tracing, we haven’t done enough testing – we could easily have a bigger spike than what we’ve had because we don’t know where the virus is out there.

“We’ve got to be very very careful and if we do that badly, we could easily have the same spike again if not worse and then this facility, I’ve got no doubt, will be needed.

“Let’s find the best way of making that move from full lockdown to partial lockdown and back to normal life. Lets take the time it takes and be sensible with it because I’d hate for us to do it too soon and cause more deaths because ultimately this is a killer virus – that ultimately is the cost if we get it wrong, someone else will die.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Speaking as the new 460-bed facility was officially opened, Sharon Hodgson MP, Member of Parliament for Washington and Sunderland West said: “I had hoped that the Nightingale Hospital at IAMP would never need to be opened. But unfortunately, with high rates of Coronavirus infections in the North East the opening of the Nightingale today is necessary and has to be ready if and when it is needed to relieve pressure off local hospitals and help save lives.

“It acts as a reminder that we all have a part to play in fighting Coronavirus and should stay home and keep our distance from others when we do have to leave the house.

“My thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones, as well as other individuals who have contracted the virus. I pay tribute to all those working in the NHS who are treating and caring for those with Coronavirus. We all have a duty to help prevent the spread of the virus and that is why I urge everyone to stay at home if they are able to.”