There is a way the plumber can say what he is saying but he is either being rather thick or playing smart arse because in some ways what he is saying is correct.
A hospital is set up to provide for some area that contains a population of people.
Overtime they know what they will need to treat and the numbers of people who need specific treatments.
There is a right rats nest behind that where people could wish they were in BUPA.
The equipment needed is provided to allow them to do that.
They hope to provide the people needed to service it. That actually includes some bought in as temps even nurses.
So they are set up to handle a whole range of things at expected rates few needing oxygen for any length of time or ICU's. Some areas are deliberately limited to some handling rate. Winter flu is one as the need varies. In all years it's trivial compared with covid and has been for a very long time but it and increases in other areas usually makes them rather busy for a while over winter. Getting hip etc replacements can take a long long time. Some treatments aren't given as the outcome isn't economically feasible. Some might die as the result of the treatment so how many survive etc. Some things are easier to cure than others. Drug costs come into it - is what they offer worth while. MRI costs more than x-rays and those cost more than ultrasound scans.
Personal beef for me due to a problem I had especially when the ultrasound man told me they find nothing at all on the people they scan for this type of problem and they scan loads. I'd love to know who came up with the idea of calling NICE nice.
So along comes covid and suddenly rather a lot of people need oxygen and also ICU's. That then limits capacity so the boost it anyway they can. They need to do as much of their normal work that they can without people who need it catching covid. That means dividing the work force and the hospital but the workers in both areas can still catch it so people in self isolation numbers creep up. They are just as likely to catch it away from work as we are. In covid areas they do their best to avoid catching it but nothing is perfect so some do. They are a rather specialised lot so to keep things going that has to stop. That removes people from other areas limiting what that area can do.
There are 2 other covid areas other than the ICU's. What might be called covid wards and HDU's, those for people who may need an ICU. Things started changing in the 1st wave. Better treatment and equipment that reduces the numbers going into ICU's. It doesn't change the numbers going in and probably extends treatment time. Seconds to catch it and a week plus to cure.
Currently HCU's look to be the limitation along with increases in the numbers needing just oxygen. There is an increase in younger age groups in that area. Then comes the fact that there are more cases as well. Death ratio appears to be better than during the 1st wave but time will tell. Looks like we gained 20,000 deaths in the quiet period - not newsworthy in terms of daily rates.
28day deaths. Well 60 day is still published and it's just marginally higher and also the death certificate covid count is always higher.