Much higher absences than the national average. north west england reported an 85% week on week increase in absences in the last few minutes it has been announced the army will help the ambulance service in the north west. cases are rising everywhere but london. in the capital, where cases are slowing down, staff absences are less severe, with 4% of staff absent. the armed forces have sent 200 personnel into nhs hospitals across london to plug staff shortages. 16 hospital trusts in england are reported to be in critical incident status meaning they face concerns over providing core care. more from our health correspondent, katharine da costa. the nhs is on a warfooting, and it s calling out for reinforcements. london s hospitals have been hit hardest by covid related absences more than 5,000 staff in acute trusts were absent in the week up to boxing day.
To the latest figures. meanwhile the armed forces have sent 200 personnel into hospitals across london to help with staff shortages. dementia cases are expected to almost triple across the world by 2050. experts say it s down to ageing and growing populations. injune, zolgensma, a highly effective treatment for the rare genetic disorder spinal muscular atrophy, was approved for use on the nhs. it s the world s most expensive drug and has the potential to save the lives of babies with the condition. one year old edward was given the drug in august, and it s changed his life. zoe conway has been to meet him and his mum, megan. he s just my little boy, just completely in awe of him, he s like the strongest little baby i know. i m just so proud of him. he s just doing so well. edward was born with the genetic condition spinal muscular atrophy. it causes progressive
And the southwest a more widespread rain but even some of that turning wintry of the high ground. some sunny spells in between. it is windy and it is called this afternoon, 4-8 . and it is called this afternoon, 4 8 . tonight, under clear skies across eastern areas it will turn very cold indeed. however, things change through the night, cloud and rain spinning in from the west and with that some much milder air. eight for belfast, ten for plymouth by the end of the night. the milder air tied up by the end of the night. the milder airtied up with by the end of the night. the milder air tied up with the cloud, under a rain pushing eastwards, a band of heavy downpours sliding eastwards. sunny spells and showers following on behind, squally gusty wind is common 50 miles an hour or more in some western areas and turning colder, temperatures between 5 10 . hello this is bbc news. the headlines. nhs hospital staff covid related absences in england
Obviously used military personnel in the current covid situation with nightingale hospitals, inoculation centres and so on. the military are very happy to do this. i think it s a good thing as a nation that we bring the military and when we need support. it has to be said the military is a lot smaller than when i firstjoined, military is a lot smaller than when ifirstjoined, we are military is a lot smaller than when i firstjoined, we are talking about on our brain out of about 75,000, nearforce of about on our brain out of about 75,000, near force of about 35 thousand, we have not got huge resources in that sense, and we must remember the military s primary purpose is to conduct operations around the world and support government policy in terms of foreign policy, defence policy etc. but for day to day business, the military people involved in supporting the nhs in london for example will find no different to where they have been working today in many cases and they will genuinely enjo