HOSPITAL chiefs say they are "doing everything" to tackle waiting lists at Leighton Hospital while stressing non-Covid patients have not been abandoned.

The 545-bed Crewe medical complex is back treating around 80 per cent the number of patients it was before Covid-19 struck and elective surgery and some outpatient work was suspended.

Staff were transferred to dedicated Covid-19 areas to care for the rising number of patients and at the peak of the first wave in early April the hospital's intensive care unit – which has 11 beds – was almost full.

On two consecutive weeks there were more Covid patients than could be accommodated in a dedicated 60-bed high-risk Covid zone.

But the Mid Cheshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (MCHT), which runs Leighton, stresses it still continued to treat non-Covid patients and performed emergency operations, while more than 100 people were treated in A&E every day.

The trust has revealed the numbers of Covid-19 patients it treated from late March to the beginning of October in response to a Freedom of Information request from local councillor Brian Silvester, who claims non-Covid patients with serious conditions have been left waiting for treatment at the expense of their health.

In the weeks beginning March 29 and April 5 the numbers of Covid patients treated by Leighton was at its peak at 72 and 86 respectively. During those weeks there were eight and nine patients occupying intensive care beds.

Leighton recorded its highest death toll from Covid in the weeks beginning April 5 and 12 with 35 and 31 people sadly passing away with the disease.

But the numbers dropped after that in line with national trends and by the end of May there were 25 Covid patients at Leighton, less than six people in intensive care and deaths were down to 13.

In July, August and September the numbers of Covid patients were below six for all but one week and in only two weeks were any deaths recorded.

A spokesperson for MCHT said: "Our staff have worked tirelessly over recent months to try to maintain services and deliver the highest quality of healthcare to local people.

"In July our teams, who have been affected by sickness and shielding like the rest of our community, worked incredibly hard to resume non-Covid services.

"We are making every effort to treat as many patients as possible and are treating around four-fifths the number of patients we were pre-Covid."

Cllr Silvester – who is a member of Minshull Vernon Parish Council in which Leighton Hospital is located - claims that as only 16 per cent of beds at Leighton were occupied by Covid patients at the peak of the pandemic there was no need to make Leighton a "Covid-only hospital".

He said: "Because this was done, some local people have sadly died unnecessarily and the waiting lists have mushroomed.

"Even at the peak [of the pandemic] beds should have been used for non-Covid cases, but too many of those beds were left empty. Leighton Hospital must learn from this and ensure that from now on all the 545 beds in the hospital are used for all patients at all times and not just for Covid patients.

"Swift action needs to be taken to tackle the waiting lists. Leighton Hospital never came anywhere near being overwhelmed because of Covid."

The MCHT spokesperson added: "We appreciate that a number of patients are waiting for treatment or a procedure and we are doing everything we can to address this.

"We continue to provide care for non-Covid patients and it's important that, unless contacted and advised otherwise people attend any appointments as planned.

"Coronavirus cases are rising again in the community, so it is vital that everyone does what they can to control the virus, particularly by following government guidelines."

The trust says if you need medical help but are not sure where to go call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk.