Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn discharge 200th patient treated for Covid-19

A hospital in one of the region's worst affected areas for coronavirus have discharged their 200th patient.

West Norfolk, which is served by The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, has seen high numbers of cases according to the ONS data.

The hospital's medical director praised staff for their "fantastic" work during the pandemic.

Dr Frankie Swords said: "“The response from staff has been fantastic. We transformed our hospital into Covid and non-Covid zones, creating separate Emergency Departments, critical care units and wards to cope with expected demand and keep all our patients and staff safe.

“I am delighted to say we have now been able to discharge 200 patients, which I am sure will be a real boost for staff."

One of the 200 is Lenny Brocklebank, who is more used to taking people into hospital in his day job as a paramedic with the East of England Ambulance Service.

At one point during his 12-day stay in hospital, the 62-year-old from Fakenham thought he might die.

He said: "Late one evening, after four days on high flow oxygen and IV medication, the consultant had a conversation with me. As a medic, plain speaking was something I was grateful for but it was a scary conversation.

“I was told that I was not responding to treatment, and if there was still no improvement when he returned in the morning, he would have to get his team together and consider moving me to the intensive care unit.

"I did not want to worry my wife with the potential consequences, so told her nothing.

“Thankfully, that night my fever broke, and knowing severe temperature is a large part of feeling unwell, I was grateful to bypass intensive care and was then transferred to Oxborough Ward where I continued to improve."

Mr Brocklebank has now been home for over a month and is nearly fully-recovered.