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The Army has been deployed in London’s hospitals to combat the staff shortages in the NHS caused by the omicron variant.
Two hundred Armed Forces personnel will be made available, with the Ministry of Defence providing 40 doctors to help with patient care and 160 general duty personnel to support NHS hospitals across the capital.
Almost 120,000 NHS staff were off work with Covid on Wednesday, according to the latest figures seen by the Health Service Journal.
Forty teams of five personnel, each comprised of one medic and four general duties personnel were deployed this week, posted around London, and the military medics will assist NHS staff with patient care for the next three weeks.
General duty personnel will support with tasks such as maintaining stocks, checking in patients on arrival and conducting basic checks.
Follow the latest updates below.
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On Off 8:36AM
‘We have never known this level of staff absence before’
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, council chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA), told Sky News “we have never known this level of staff absence before”, adding: “Every winter of course, the NHS has additional pressures, but I don’t think anyone who’s worked in the NHS has experienced this level of absence of their colleagues and we’re feeling it in very real time because doctors and nurses and healthcare workers are having to cover for their absent colleagues – that’s adding additional, exceptional strain.”
He said although Omicron was milder, people were still falling seriously ill with Covid-19 and hospitals were dealing with the NHS treatment backlog, with almost six million people on the waiting list.
Asked how close the NHS was to being overwhelmed, he said: “I think that the words like overwhelmed, I mean, I think we should just look at the reality.
“The reality of the Army having been drafted in to London, the reality of 24 hospitals having declared critical incidents, the reality of having some hospitals having to cancel all their routine surgery, the reality of general practices having to cancel clinics on the day.
“I’m a GP, I’ve never known it this bad. We’re having to literally contact patients without notice that the staff member or a doctor or nurse just isn’t in today because they’re self-isolating.
“This is not normal, and therefore, the Government does need to recognise this is clearly an NHS under extreme pressure and the living reality sadly for thousands of patients is that they’re suffering the consequences of such pressures and also staff absence.”
8:30AM
More Army assistance may be needed
Air Commodore John Lyle said the Army had serviced over 400 requests for individual support from the military since March 2020, while more than 1,000 personnel were deployed supporting the booster programme so the support in hospitals was part of a “wide range” of help provided by the armed services, he said.
He said patients could expect to see a “primarily NHS workforce” supported by personnel wearing Army uniform and protective equipment.
He added that the Army remained in discussions and that there were areas where they were aware of the need for more assistance outside London where support will be deployed first.
8:25AM
‘Encouraging’ signs in London, ‘but need to be on our guard’, says minister
London will receive armed forces support to deal with a high absence rate among health staff but there are “encouraging” signs the city is emerging from the Omicron wave, according to a minister.
Minister for London Paul Scully, when asked whether Omicron was easing in the capital, told LBC: “I think it is looking encouraging, the trend at the moment, but clearly we need to be on our guard because there is still pressure on the NHS in London.
“It is not just about the case numbers – there is a clear disconnect between case numbers and hospitalisations – but you’ve also then, because of the increased testing and the increased awareness by people, you’ve got bigger absences as well, and that’s obviously putting extra pressure on the NHS and other public services.”
Mr Scully said the military personnel being deployed in the capital would be a “mixture of medics, porterage and these kinds of things” to assist hospitals, but said he did not have details about where they would be helping out.
He added: “What we also have is a digital staff passport for the NHS, which allows staff to move between hospitals, so where the pressure is most acute, that’s where NHS staff will be put, but also the military staff as well.”
8:24AM
More than 1,000 military personnel now deployed across UK
This support is being provided through the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) process and is in addition to more than 1,000 Armed Forces personnel who are already deployed across the UK to support the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Military personnel are assisting ambulance trusts in the devolved nations, with 313 available to support the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust (WAST), and 96 continuing to support the Scottish Ambulance Service.
More than 1,000 servicemen and women have also already been made available to support the vaccine booster programme, including 730 in England, 221 in Scotland and 98 in Wales.
Since March 2020, the military has supported over 440 tasks as part of Operation Rescript – the Ministry of Defence’s support to the UK’s response to the pandemic.
Personnel supporting on Operation Rescript tasks have deployed from across the three services – Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force – and are a mixture of regulars and reservists.
8:17AM
Javid hails ‘brilliant’ armed forces
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Our brilliant armed forces have supported the country throughout the pandemic, bolstering the teams at testing sites, vaccination centres and hospitals.
“Once again they are stepping up to assist NHS workers who are working round the clock across the capital, helping the health service through this difficult winter period where the need is greatest.
“The most important thing you can do is get boosted now to protect your loved ones and communities from Covid-19.”
8:15AM
Defence Secretary: Army should be proud of ‘truly national effort’ against Covid
The Ministry of Defence is also providing 32 military co-responders to provide additional capacity to the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS).
Those deployed will work alongside SCAS paramedics and are expected to be on task until the end of March.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “The men and women of our Armed Forces are once again stepping up to support their dedicated colleagues in the NHS, as they work hand-in-hand to protect the nation from Covid-19.
“They have shown their worth time and again throughout this pandemic, whether driving ambulances, administering vaccines or supporting patients in hospital and they should be proud of their contribution to this truly national effort.”
8:12AM
Pre-departure tests axed
All Covid tests for travel will disappear, Grant Shapps has suggested, as holiday firms saw a surge in bookings.
The Transport Secretary indicated that the final lateral flow swabs that fully jabbed holidaymakers still have to take on arrival in the UK will be axed, to allow test-free travel.
Sources suggested it would happen within “a reasonable time frame” as ministers sought to revive the travel industry after two years of on-off restrictions.
Pre-departure tests are axed from 4am on Friday, while PCR day two tests and the associated self-isolation will disappear from Sunday.
8:36AM
‘We have never known this level of staff absence before’
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, council chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA), told Sky News “we have never known this level of staff absence before”, adding: “Every winter of course, the NHS has additional pressures, but I don’t think anyone who’s worked in the NHS has experienced this level of absence of their colleagues and we’re feeling it in very real time because doctors and nurses and healthcare workers are having to cover for their absent colleagues – that’s adding additional, exceptional strain.”
He said although Omicron was milder, people were still falling seriously ill with Covid-19 and hospitals were dealing with the NHS treatment backlog, with almost six million people on the waiting list.
Asked how close the NHS was to being overwhelmed, he said: “I think that the words like overwhelmed, I mean, I think we should just look at the reality.
“The reality of the Army having been drafted in to London, the reality of 24 hospitals having declared critical incidents, the reality of having some hospitals having to cancel all their routine surgery, the reality of general practices having to cancel clinics on the day.
“I’m a GP, I’ve never known it this bad. We’re having to literally contact patients without notice that the staff member or a doctor or nurse just isn’t in today because they’re self-isolating.
“This is not normal, and therefore, the Government does need to recognise this is clearly an NHS under extreme pressure and the living reality sadly for thousands of patients is that they’re suffering the consequences of such pressures and also staff absence.”
8:30AM
More Army assistance may be needed
Air Commodore John Lyle said the Army had serviced over 400 requests for individual support from the military since March 2020, while more than 1,000 personnel were deployed supporting the booster programme so the support in hospitals was part of a “wide range” of help provided by the armed services, he said.
He said patients could expect to see a “primarily NHS workforce” supported by personnel wearing Army uniform and protective equipment.
He added that the Army remained in discussions and that there were areas where they were aware of the need for more assistance outside London where support will be deployed first.
8:25AM
‘Encouraging’ signs in London, ‘but need to be on our guard’, says minister
London will receive armed forces support to deal with a high absence rate among health staff but there are “encouraging” signs the city is emerging from the Omicron wave, according to a minister.
Minister for London Paul Scully, when asked whether Omicron was easing in the capital, told LBC: “I think it is looking encouraging, the trend at the moment, but clearly we need to be on our guard because there is still pressure on the NHS in London.
“It is not just about the case numbers – there is a clear disconnect between case numbers and hospitalisations – but you’ve also then, because of the increased testing and the increased awareness by people, you’ve got bigger absences as well, and that’s obviously putting extra pressure on the NHS and other public services.”
Mr Scully said the military personnel being deployed in the capital would be a “mixture of medics, porterage and these kinds of things” to assist hospitals, but said he did not have details about where they would be helping out.
He added: “What we also have is a digital staff passport for the NHS, which allows staff to move between hospitals, so where the pressure is most acute, that’s where NHS staff will be put, but also the military staff as well.”
8:24AM
More than 1,000 military personnel now deployed across UK
This support is being provided through the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) process and is in addition to more than 1,000 Armed Forces personnel who are already deployed across the UK to support the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Military personnel are assisting ambulance trusts in the devolved nations, with 313 available to support the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust (WAST), and 96 continuing to support the Scottish Ambulance Service.
More than 1,000 servicemen and women have also already been made available to support the vaccine booster programme, including 730 in England, 221 in Scotland and 98 in Wales.
Since March 2020, the military has supported over 440 tasks as part of Operation Rescript – the Ministry of Defence’s support to the UK’s response to the pandemic.
Personnel supporting on Operation Rescript tasks have deployed from across the three services – Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force – and are a mixture of regulars and reservists.
8:17AM
Javid hails ‘brilliant’ armed forces
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Our brilliant armed forces have supported the country throughout the pandemic, bolstering the teams at testing sites, vaccination centres and hospitals.
“Once again they are stepping up to assist NHS workers who are working round the clock across the capital, helping the health service through this difficult winter period where the need is greatest.
“The most important thing you can do is get boosted now to protect your loved ones and communities from Covid-19.”
8:15AM
Defence Secretary: Army should be proud of ‘truly national effort’ against Covid
The Ministry of Defence is also providing 32 military co-responders to provide additional capacity to the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS).
Those deployed will work alongside SCAS paramedics and are expected to be on task until the end of March.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “The men and women of our Armed Forces are once again stepping up to support their dedicated colleagues in the NHS, as they work hand-in-hand to protect the nation from Covid-19.
“They have shown their worth time and again throughout this pandemic, whether driving ambulances, administering vaccines or supporting patients in hospital and they should be proud of their contribution to this truly national effort.”
8:12AM
Pre-departure tests axed
All Covid tests for travel will disappear, Grant Shapps has suggested, as holiday firms saw a surge in bookings.
The Transport Secretary indicated that the final lateral flow swabs that fully jabbed holidaymakers still have to take on arrival in the UK will be axed, to allow test-free travel.
Sources suggested it would happen within “a reasonable time frame” as ministers sought to revive the travel industry after two years of on-off restrictions.
Pre-departure tests are axed from 4am on Friday, while PCR day two tests and the associated self-isolation will disappear from Sunday.
