staff absences due to Covid have risen 59% in a week. The military said it could offer assistance to

latest figures show that mental health absences among NHS staff have soared during the spring and

Staff absences at NHS hospitals in England due to Covid-19 have jumped more than 30% week-on-week

contingency plans will be in place for much higher levels of staff absence than are currently being recorded

Plan B is balanced and proportionate to respond to the Omicron variant.... It is continuing to help reduce its spread.... Of course we will continue to take appropriate measures to ensure the NHS has the support they need.”....

The NHS is facing significant pressure as it copes with the latest wave of Covid-19 despite hopes that cases should start to drop in the coming weeks. Boris Johnson will lead a Downing Street press conference as No 10 admitted that the health service is facing a “ difficult time ” during a “ challenging winter ”.... Officials in Whitehall are keeping an “ extremely close eye ” on hospital capacity, with admissions and occupancy “ increasing significantly ”.... But the Prime Minister’s official

since the pandemic began.In London, staff absences have more than tripled at acute hospital trusts

.... It’s been six weeks since Feinstein came back to the Senate from an extended medical absence for

Covid-related absences of NHS staff at hospitals in England are continuing to fall, but levels are

The government will help former teachers to get back in schools to support those facing staff