Royal Papworth gradually reopening some non-emergency services

Royal Papworth in Cambridge is working to reopen more of its non-emergency services as the number of coronavirus patients gradually reduces. 

Emergency surgeries like lung and heart transplants have been happening throughout the last year, but around 140 nurses were redeployed to support pandemic efforts. 

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Procedures like planned elective heart surgery had to be reduced as a result, and staff are now working on increasing capacity. 

David Jenkins, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Royal Papworth says it may take a year to recover to normal levels.

Stephen Webb, a consultant in intensive care, said the intensive care unit almost doubled in capacity from around 33 beds to 65 beds at the height of the first coronavirus wave.

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Consultant cardiologist Patrick Calvert said that in wave one there was a drop in patients presenting with heart attacks.

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