Welcome for ‘sensible’ winter Covid-19 plan

The UK Government’s plans to control the spread of coronavirus in the coming months have been welcomed as “sensible and proportionate”.

Health leaders have warned they expect autumn and winter to be busier than ever for the NHS and staffing levels and burnout remain a “critical concern” for many trusts.

There must be a “pragmatic approach” on measures such as the wearing of face masks should cases rise in the months ahead, NHS Providers said.

The membership organisation for NHS hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services said plans outlined by Health Secretary Sajid Javid will be broadly welcomed.

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “The situation in the NHS is far from ‘normal’ and we expect this autumn and winter to be busier than ever for the health service.

“That’s why, alongside the ongoing vaccination and testing and tracing programmes, trust leaders will broadly welcome the government’s plan to keep a wider range of Covid-19 measures under close review.

“A pragmatic approach towards measures such as mask mandates and increased public caution is vital if cases spike in the coming months, putting the NHS under unsustainable pressure.

“Trusts are grappling with record waiting lists across hospital, mental health and community services. Bed capacity is lower because of continuing enhanced infection control measures.

“Staffing levels and burnout continue to be a critical concern for many trusts.”

She said demand for urgent and emergency care is above pre-pandemic levels and there are “unprecedented pressures” on ambulance services.

The decision to extend the vaccine programme with the rollout of coronavirus vaccines to 12 to 15-year-olds as well as booster jabs, a continued focus on testing and good public health messaging are some of the “key points” in the plans for winter, said Mark Woolhouse, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh.

Prof Woolhouse, who is a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, which advises the government, said it remains hard to predict how bad things could get for the NHS in the next few months, so the plan remains flexible.

He said: “The package of measures announced today is a sensible and proportionate response to the Covid-19 threat in the UK this coming winter.

“The overarching aim is to continue the return to normal activities while keeping them as safe as possible, with more emphasis on voluntary interventions.”

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) stressed that workforce shortages remain a problem, insisting that health and care staff are not an “inexhaustible resource”.

RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said: “These measures will be key to getting us through the knife-edge winter we all fear.

“But nursing staff will be concerned at issues not referenced today.

“With more Covid-19 vaccinations to deliver as well as the flu programme, the shortages in the nursing workforce will be increasingly exposed.”

UNDER PRESSURE: Health leaders have warned that they expect autumn and winter to be busier than ever for the NHS.

Saffron Cordery.