Local hospitals will be able to quickly activate surge capacity in the independent sector as part of the national COVID response, under a new deal announced today. A three-month agreement with multiple independent healthcare organisations will see their staff and facilities put on standby to support the NHS should the Omicron variant lead to unsustainable […]

The country’s top family doctor today urged families to get their children protected against coronavirus, as the NHS vaccination programme makes hundreds of thousands of appointments available. Dr Nikki Kanani said around half a million vaccination appointments for 12 to 15-year-olds are up for grabs across the country during January. Families can book in at […]

NHS National Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis said: “Omicron means more patients to treat and fewer staff to treat them. In fact, around 10,000 more colleagues across the NHS were absent each day last week compared with the previous seven days and almost half of all absences are now down to COVID. “While we don’t […]

England’s top GP is urging people to come forward for their booster jab with two million appointments up for grabs over the next week as the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Programme continues to protect the nation. The NHS bolstered capacity to roll out boosters at an unprecedented rate as part of a ‘national mission’ to protect […]

Commenting on statistics released today showing 326,152 coronavirus vaccinations, including some 260,218 boosters or third doses, were reported over New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and January 2nd. Dr Emily Lawson, NHS vaccination lead said: “Thanks to the continued efforts of NHS staff and volunteers, 326,152 COVID vaccinations – including over a quarter of a million […]

The head of the NHS in England is paying tribute to over 100,000 people who gave up around two million hours of their time to help ramp up the vaccination programme in 2021, as the NHS doubled down on boosting the nation. Working alongside NHS staff, selfless volunteers helped to deliver record-beating numbers of jabs […]

The head of the world-leading NHS COVID vaccination programme is recognised in the New Year Honours list alongside dozens of colleagues from across the health service. The Damehood for Dr Emily Lawson comes just over a year after the NHS made history by launching the first national COVID vaccines programme by delivering the first Pfizer […]

More than three quarters of eligible adults have received their lifesaving booster, thanks to NHS staff and volunteers who have continued to pull out all the stops to protect the nation. In total, over 28 million eligible people aged 18 and over received their top up jab by 30 December, as the NHS booster campaign […]

The NHS is setting up new Nightingale surge hubs at hospitals across the country as part of preparations for a potential wave of Omicron admissions. Temporary structures capable of housing around 100 patients will be erected in the grounds of eight hospitals across the country, with work starting as early as this week. These Nightingale […]

The NHS COVID vaccination programme is contacting hundreds of thousands more people this week urging them to book a booster and have a “jabby New Year”. Some 650,000 text messages and 50,000 letters are being sent to people who have who have not yet had their vital top-up vaccine, encouraging them to get boosted now. […]