THE Wye Valley NHS Trust is facing the "most challenging" months of the pandemic as it's currently treating more than 100 coronavirus patients.

The number of patients with coronavirus at Herefordshire's hospitals has been rising over recent weeks, with 85 on Tuesday.

A week on, the trust's director of nursing Lucy Flanagan said in a video message to staff that number was more than 100.

She confirmed there had been a number of outbreaks of Covid-19 on wards, including at community hospitals, and thanked staff for their continued hard work.

"As I sit here today, we have over 100 Covid-19 positive patients in our hospitals beds," she said on Tuesday.

"We have a number of outbreaks across our wards and across our community hospitals, we have many of our colleagues off sick, self-isolating or shielding.

"I know how much pressure these things put us under. I know many of you are tired, I know many of you are stressed.

"I know many of you are scared, and I know that some of you are saying this is having a huge impact on your mental health and well-being, and even your sleep."

During the first wave in Herefordshire, the number of coronavirus patients in hospital peaked at 50 in April 2020 – but the trust is now caring for more than double that.

As the number of patients continues to rise at the trust, Lucy Flanagan admitted the next few months would be some of the most challenging yet.

She said: "I do know that the next few weeks, and even months, are probably going to be some of the most challenging we have ever faced, some of the most challenging that the NHS has ever faced.

"Yet I also hope that we will start to see the positive impact of the Covid-19 vaccination and hopefully some return to some form of normality sometime soon.

"I can't wait for that day.

"I can't wait for the day I can give someone a hug, hold meetings in person, and have closer human contact than the pandemic allows.

"But none of us know when that's going to be."

She also urged staff to use resources available to them and to remember "a problem shared is a problem halved".

She added: "I know that many of you are working in environments where staffing levels aren't as good as they should be.

"I know many of you are working in unfamiliar environments, some of you are undertaking tasks that you've never undertaken before, and some of you are even working in environments that you've never worked in before.

"A massive thank you to each and every one of you where that applies."