The remote and rural hospitals at threat from coronavirus

The health publication HSJ reports that the coronavirus outbreak is currently a highly regionalised feature in the UK

This means that hospitals in more remote areas, often with older populations more susceptible to serious illness, are more at risk of meltdown when faced with an influx of patients.

General hospitals in some rural or remote areas feel it is taking them a long time to get test results compared to those in, or closer to, the big cities that normally host the main testing centres.

There is the appearance that big urban centres are being prioritised for the staff, equipment and space needed for meeting acute demand.

Whilst it is likely that big cities will have higher numbers of coronavirus cases, they also generally have a higher number of beds already as teaching hospitals are concentrated in larger cities.

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HSJ - Revealed: The remote and rural hospitals at threat from coronavirus