dated a long spell of hospital and it was an interesting experience. he showed me somewhere some of the cracks but also some of the good things about the nhs. what really scares me about this and what worries me is what would happen to somebody in my position now. what would that experience be like after two years of this? and the potential for very high number of new hospital cases coming in, so i can understand why people are smiling because they can celebrate and it s been a dark and difficult time. but i worry that this is a big gamble of the government is taking here. the? this is a big gamble of the government is taking here. they have taken this decision government is taking here. they have taken this decision after government is taking here. they have taken this decision after meeting - taken this decision after meeting with the chief medical officer today and sir patrick vallance the cheap significant visor but there has not been allowed to go on over the christmas period
morning to. last year borisjohnson said, when the facts change, you have to change your approach so would you support further restrictions at this time? here we are about a restrictions at this time? here we are about a week restrictions at this time? here we are about a week on restrictions at this time? here we are about a week on from - restrictions at this time? here we are about a week on from the i restrictions at this time? here we l are about a week on from the vote restrictions at this time? here we i are about a week on from the vote in parliament on further measures and we have no better evidence than we had then. we simply don t know, and i respect what you re previous correspondence was saying, but we don t have the evidence that these omicron cases, particularly with the high level of vaccination we have got, are going to transmit into the huge number of hospital cases that she and others in the medical profession believe they might. at the moment, i wouldn t vote fo
on from the vote in parliament on further measures and we have no better evidence than we had then. we simply don t know, and i respect what you re previous correspondent was saying, but we don t have the evidence that these omicron cases, particularly with the high level of vaccination we have got, are going to transmit into the huge number of hospital cases that she and others in the medical profession believe they might. at the moment, i wouldn t vote for further measures. don t ministers have to prepare for the worst? they can tjust hope for the best? no, and there are a number of things going on, looking at treating a significant number of people at home to keep them out of hospital and make sure they are treated, and of course they can go to hospital if they get seriously ill. we are looking at urging medics and nurses to come back health profession if they are retired, at opening up more intensive care beds so there are things going on and we are looking
vicki, thank you. young, from westminster. a key factor ministers will be considering is how well the nhs might cope should rising infection rates lead to greater demands for hospital care. there are fears that staff shortages may also hit the nhs as people are forced to isolate with covid. here s our health editor hugh pym. the nhs is braced for a wave of hospital cases in the weeks ahead. but they don t know how big that will be. what they do know is that covid is already taking its toll in the shape of higher staff absences. the nhs employers group told me that staff sickness is a particular problem in london. members are reported to us a really dramatic increase in levels of absence over these last ten days. three were four times more people off sick now compared to ten days ago. the fear is that we see the same pattern of absence replicated across the country. even if omicron generates a
as people are forced to isolate with covid. here s our health editor hugh pym. the nhs is braced for a wave of hospital cases in the weeks ahead. but they don t know how big that will be. what they do know is that covid is already taking its toll in the shape of higher staff absences. the nhs employers group told me that staff sickness is a particular problem in london. members have reported to us a really dramatic increase in levels of absence over this last ten days. three orfour times more people off sick now compared to ten days ago. the fear is that we see the same pattern of absence replicated across the country. even if omicron generates a surge in mainly mild infections, that will have an impact on the public sector and the wider economy, with some employees needing to isolate. that s another reason why ministers and health officials are pushing the message about boosterjabs,