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 […]

Issued at 8.30am on Thursday 6 January 2022 There is a 90% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow between 9am on Thursday 6 January and 9am on Monday 10 January in parts of England.  This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. Find out more about staying […]

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 […]

Issued at 9.00am on Monday 3 January 2022 There is a 90% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow between midnight on Tuesday 4 January and midday on Thursday 6 January in parts of England. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. Find out more about staying […]

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 […]

Issued at 9.35 am on Thursday 30 December 2021. There is a 60% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow between midnight on Tuesday 4 January and midnight on Wednesday 5 January in parts of England.  This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. Find out more about staying […]

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 […]