NHS rising to the challenge

Vaccines now eclipse infections

THERE WAS a very thoughtful – and telling – pause from NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens when he was asked if the National Health Service had ever been in a more “perilous” position in its history. “No,” he replied before disclosing how the response is even more remarkable given 50,000 NHS staff are off work for Covid-related reasons.

And while he said a comparable number of new staff have been recruited in the past year, Covid – and also the emotional trauma of the second surge in infections, and deaths – is taking its toll on doctors and nurses alike. That’s why The Yorkshire Post knows it can count on its readers to offer their support – and acts of kindness – to people that they know who are working in the health and care sectors at this time.

Collectively, this can mean as much, if not more, than the national shows of solidarity witnessed during the first weeks of the pandemic – and it’s hoped that the Government does more to recognise staff. But, at the start of what will be another daunting week, there is one statistic which offers some hope and that is the number of people vaccinated exceeds those who have caught Covid. A welcome milestone as 10 new vaccine centres, including one at a York park and ride site, now open, there’s now every possibility of every person aged 80 or over receiving their first jab by February 15. More than half have now done so.

However it is premature to contend that the current lockdown will be eased then – Sir Simon warned that patients under the age of 55 account for one quarter of all Covid hospital cases.

The third startling statistic of the weekend, it is another powerful reminder that the restrictions are necessary to save lives and protect the NHS – but that they do not prevent people from reaching out to all those who would appreciate words of friendship from our NHS super-heroes to those enduring a very lonely existence in the lockdown.