this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. donald trump becomes the first president to be impeached twice. democrat house speaker nancy pelosi says holding him accountable for the riots on capitol hill shows nobody is above the law. the president must be convicted by the senate. a constitutional remedy that will ensure the republic will be safe from this man who is so resolutely determined to tear down the things that we hold dear. in a video released after the vote, mr trump called on his followers to remain peaceful. mob violence goes against everything i believe in and everything our movement stands for. no true supporter of mine could

ever endorse political violence. from this morning, the coronavirus vaccine will be made available at some high street pharmacies in england. it's hoped hundreds will soon be giving the jab. new rules requiring travellers arriving in england to have had a negative coronavirus test have been delayed. new research suggests the majority of people who've had covid—19 are immune for at least five months. and international scientists arrive in wuhan in china to investigate the origins of covid—19. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world, and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here

and across the globe. donald trump has become the first us president to be impeached twice. he's been charged with "incitement of insurrection" over last week's assault on congress by his supporters. our us correspondent barbara plett usher has the story. the resolution is adopted without objection. the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. so ended a week like no other in washington, with the astonishing collapse of donald trump's final days in office. lawmakers return to a capitol transformed. thousands of national guard troops deployed to protect them from the loyal supporters of the departing president who had stormed congress. the people's house looked like a war zone. the debate to impeach the president for inciting the violence was sharp and emotional. the president must be impeached, and i believe the president must be convicted by the senate — a constitutional remedy that will ensure the republic

will be safe from this man who is so resolutely determined to tear down the things that we hold dear and that hold us together. it's notjust about impeachment any more, it's about cancelling, as i've said, cancelling the president and anyone that disagrees with them. but most republicans didn't defend mr trump. instead, they questioned the process and warned it would deepen divisions. and ten voted for impeachment — a stark difference from the first time around a year ago. next, this goes to the senate for trial, but only after the inauguration ofjoe biden, when mr trump will have left office. but i cannot emphasise that there must be no violence... in a video message, he still did not concede the election, but with the threat of more attacks to come, he called for protesters to remain peaceful. if you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement. you are attacking it. and you are attacking our country. usa! it's been one week since the riot,

and there's one week to go before joe biden is inaugurated. in the middle of this, the house says it has acted to protect democracy by impeaching mr trump. but a peaceful transfer of power still feels very fragile. barbara plett usher, bbc news, washington. james comey was the director of the fbi until he was fired by president trump in 2017. he told the bbc mr trump should be removed from office. i think it would be good for our country if he were, because it would send a signal that this is absolutely beyond the pale, unacceptable behaviour by any american leader. i think the united states congress had to serve notice of this behaviour even though it is coming at the end of his term needed a permanent historic mark and i think they made the right decision. let's speak now to dr brian klaas, associate professor in global politics at the university college london and a columnist for the washington post.

good to have you with us, as ever. your take on this historic vote and what might it tell us about how the trial in the senate might unfold? this is a historic vote. impeachment of a president has happened four times in american history, back to the 1700s. two of those times have been for donald trump. it is a truly extraordinary marker in history. if you go 100 years in the future, it is highly likely that history books will talk of the only us president to be impeached twice. in terms of the senate trial, the fact that ten house republicans voted to impeach trump is a difference from the previous impeachment and shows there is some bipartisan support and i think the trial will show that, that there will be some senators in the republican party who vote to convict president trump. 0f republican party who vote to convict president trump. of course, it is after he has left office that the

trial will take place, so it won't remove him, but will mark down for posterity that this was unacceptable and it could have consequences for his political future.— his political future. what are the calculations _ his political future. what are the calculations for _ his political future. what are the calculations for those _ his political future. what are the calculations for those on - his political future. what are the calculations for those on the - calculations for those on the republican side deciding whether or not to convict him. we have heard the argument that if he is convicted it will deepen divisions in america, we've also heard the other side of the coin that if there are no sanctions against donald trump then thatis sanctions against donald trump then that is not acceptable either? yeah. that is not acceptable either? yeah, i think one of _ that is not acceptable either? yeah, i think one of the _ that is not acceptable either? yeah, i think one of the key _ that is not acceptable either? yeah, i think one of the key points - that is not acceptable either? yeah, i think one of the key points here i i think one of the key points here is, if this is not impeachable, what is? if people agree he has incited violence in a way that caused a violent insurrection and takeover of the us capitol that caused the deaths of five people, it would be hard to imagine if that is not impeachable then what is. they will be thinking about their political futures because their base still

like donald trump. secondly, they will consider the principle. at times, the party has not been guided by that over the past four years. hopefully this era had a wake—up call with the events of january six and that will be forefront of their minds. and also, what direction does the party take now? mitch mcconnell will likely become senate minority leader. conviction in a senate trial followed by expulsion from future political life would help mitch mcconnell move on from this. he will way that against the backlash that he will face from political supporters and also from president trump. pm supporters and also from president trum -. �* , ,., supporters and also from president trum. �* , ., trump. an interesting point to look at. what trump. an interesting point to look at- what did _ trump. an interesting point to look at. what did you _ trump. an interesting point to look at. what did you make _ trump. an interesting point to look at. what did you make of _ trump. an interesting point to look at. what did you make of the - trump. an interesting point to look at. what did you make of the short| at. what did you make of the short video message from donald trump yesterday? its video message from donald trump esterda ? , _, �* , yesterday? its welcome. it's good for him to unequivocally _

yesterday? its welcome. it's good for him to unequivocally say - yesterday? its welcome. it's good for him to unequivocally say he i for him to unequivocally say he wants peaceful protest, it's completely at odds with how he has behaved, acted and spoken of the last four years. he has routinely encouraged political violence. go back to 2017 when he said he would pay legal bills for supporters if they roughed up protesters at rallies. you encourage the police to rough up suspects when they put them in squad cars. famously in the presidential debate earlier this year he said, he was asked about the proud boys and he told them to stand by. they took that instruction and acted on january six by. they took that instruction and acted onjanuary six based on some of his claims. so, yes, it's welcome, but it's long overdue and it is a departure from his political rhetoric in the past —— proud boys. what does this mean for the first days and weeks of the biden presidency? 0bviouslyjoe biden wants to roll out plans for a vaccine, but right now there are

thousands of troops on and around capitol hill. 15,000 mobilised for the inauguration, more than the number of us troops in iraq and afghanistan combined. what are those early days of the presidency going to look like forjoe biden? he is t in: to to look like forjoe biden? he is trying to thread _ to look like forjoe biden? he is trying to thread a _ to look like forjoe biden? he is trying to thread a needle - to look like forjoe biden? he: 3 trying to thread a needle here because he believes in accountability for trump and thinks it's important to draw a line in the sand, but he wants his presidency not to be defined by the past presidency. he doesn't want every headline to be about donald trump, headline to be about donald trump, he wants to forge an agenda and move beyond the trump years and set out his own policies. so i think what's going to happen is what he calls a bifurcated senate schedule were part of the set time will be devoted to the trial of donald trump and part of it will be confirming nominations and passing policies. when republicans are calling for unity and not divisiveness, they are blocking a lot of his key confirmation notes for people who

need to be an important national security roles at the moment he takes office. they are doing that in ways unprecedented in american history. you will have to try to catch up. history. you will have to try to catch urn-— history. you will have to try to catch u. �* ., ., . ~ ., catch up. brian, good to talk to ou. catch up. brian, good to talk to yom doctor— catch up. brian, good to talk to you. doctor brian _ catch up. brian, good to talk to you. doctor brian klaas - catch up. brian, good to talk to you. doctor brian klaas from i catch up. brian, good to talk to i you. doctor brian klaas from ucl and columnist for the washington post. news just coming into columnist for the washington post. newsjust coming into is columnist for the washington post. news just coming into is that andy murray has tested positive for covid—19. we have no further details. she is due, we don't know how this will impact on his plans, but he was due to travel to australia in the middle of january to quarantine ahead of the australian open which has already been moved to a later date to allow players from around the world to go through that period of quarantine, so we don't know how this might affect his plans. at the news just coming into us that the tennis

player andy murray has tested positive for covid—19. the leader of a who mission investigating the origins of coronavirus says his team is embarking on a long journey. they've finally arrived in the city of wuhan, after repeated delays which have raised suspicions that china is not fully cooperating with international health authorities. 0ur china correspondent robin brant is in wuhan. well, the original plan was to come injuly but that ended with two people sitting in a hotel for two weeks and then leaving. they are here now, there were technical hitches even last week in terms of visas and agreeing dates and arrangements, but they got here from singapore today and so the work starts now. it is a year since the outbreak. that is a significant period of time. one of the biggest questions here is notjust what kind of access will they get, what kind of collaboration and cooperation will they get from their chinese hosts, their chinese counterparts and scientists, but what are

they going to be able to see if and when they go to that market where we saw that first cluster of cases a year ago. it is boarded up. we were there this morning and there is nothing going on, certainly on the ground level there. for the next two weeks, they will be stuck in a government facility or in a hotel because they need to undergo quarantine. we are told there will be daily video conferences with chinese counterparts. then there will be field visits, so they almost certainly will go to the market two miles on the other side of the river. there is an institute of technology which has been looking at coronaviruses for decades, but there are unsubstantiated claims that there could have been a leak from the lab.

those rumours do not go away. will they go further south to the caves where the bats almost certainly who were the source of this lived? we just don't know. they want science to be at the centre of what they're doing and not politics because no access to them, certainly not for people like us. this is all getting under way as a new case in china is causing concern? yes. so, for the first time in eight months, china has confirmed a death from covid—19. that shows you the extent to which the outbreak has been contained across this vast country. nonetheless, there is a resurgence in new local transmission cases. north of here, not in wuhan. wuhan is safe and back to normal.

but in the province of hubei, close to beijing. we are seeing several hundred cases. a new death was announced yesterday. authorities are reacting quickly. they don't want to see a second wave. there is particular anxiety because of proximity to the capital beijing. they have about 22 million people subject to varying restrictions in terms of staying in their homes and where they can and cannot go. authorities are trying to vaccinate about 15 million people over the next few weeks. we get that yearly spring festival in the middle of february, it's huge, and usually it involves a mass exodus of people across the country and that is of huge concern. fabian leendertz is a professor in the epidemiology of highly pathogenic micro—organisms at germany's public health body, the robert koch institute. he's working with the investigation and says it will be broad in scope. well, the starting point is this first mission to wuhan. so, my colleagues who are on site now will check with the local scientists which data are already available, and which are still needed to be established,

to then have all parts of the puzzle ready to develop a good picture on how the jump of the virus from animal to human happened. they will be supervised at all times by the chinese authorities, and obviously it has taken quite a long time to get to this point, do you feel like the team on the ground and the chinese officials are now on a good basis to make progress? i think everybody is very interested in finding out what really happened, because only when you know how these epidemics started, you can also identify ways to reduce the risk of these things happening again in the future. and the signals we have so far, and this is why the team is on the ground now, have been very positive. so, in terms of where they will go,

will they go to that wet market at wuhan which people will have read about is the possible source of some of those first infections, will they go to the wuhan institute of virology which has been talked about as well? no confirmation that there was any leak of a virus from there, but it has been speculated. do you know if they will go to those locations? so, the exact plan is what we are developing now in the next two weeks while they are in the quarantine. and i will be part of these meetings which have to happen online anyway. and then we will know where exactly we are going. but the wuhan market is obviously on the list. we will meet the chinese colleagues working on these viruses, so this includes people from that institute and others, as well as the clinics. so, there is a wide—ranging of things we have to look at to try to narrow down what really happened more than a year ago. fabian leendertz, thank you very much for your time.

doctor fabian leendertz and speaking to us earlier. the university hospital birmingham trust have said they are temporarily suspending kidney transplants due to the covid—19 situation. they said due to the critical situation in their area, they were temporarily suspending the waiting list patients for 1h days and pausing kidney transplantation in birmingham. they say they will keep that under regular review and update the situation when they have more information. another instance of the pressure that covid is putting in the health care system. in the uk, ministers are considering whether to ban flights from brazil, because of concerns about a new variant of coronavirus originating there. borisjohnson has warned england's hospital intensive care units

could soon be overwhelmed by the number of covid infections. the deaths of more than 1,500 people were recorded in the uk yesterday, asjonathan blake reports. coronavirus at its worst. i definitely thought i was going to die. staff and patients here at st mary's and charing cross hospitals in london dealing with the most severe cases of covid. intensive care units like this, ministers fear, are at risk of exceeding their capacity while the numbers creep ever higher. yesterday, a further 47,525 new cases of coronavirus were reported. and 1,564 people were recorded to have died within 28 days of a positive covid test, the highest number since the pandemic began. the uk is largely under strict lockdown measures,

but some argue tighter restrictions are needed. it is a race between the vaccine and the virus, and my strong view is that we're not doing nearly enough to slow down the virus and it's inexplicable to me why, when we have a more transmissible strain, during winter, that we would opt for a lockdown that is less restrictive than during the first time. meanwhile, new guidance means hospital patients who have isolated for 1h days after testing positive can be discharged to care homes without a further test. and there is concern about a new variant of coronavirus detected in people who've travelled from brazil. yesterday, the prime minister was pressed on the government's response. we're putting in extra measures to ensure that people coming from brazil are checked, and indeed stopping people coming from brazil. while it's not known yet if the mutation is any more severe or more

transmissible than others, ministers will decide whether to ban flights from brazil to the uk later today. jonathan blake, bbc news. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticas is in westminster. let's talk about the situation with flights coming from brazil firstly. do we think it's likely the government will put a ban in place there? it government will put a ban in place there? . , , . , , there? it appears they will. the prime minister _ there? it appears they will. the prime minister has _ there? it appears they will. the prime minister has set - there? it appears they will. the prime minister has set up i there? it appears they will. the prime minister has set up a i there? it appears they will. the i prime minister has set up a special covid committee this morning to discuss that. the ban on flights from brazil looks likely to be a outcome from that. what we don't know is, will the extent that ban to other countries in south america? some suggestions this morning that they may do and it could include up to ten other countries. colombia, argentina, peru, other places could

be affected as well as a sign of the concern about this brazilian variant, new variants, and risks that might pose. let variant, new variants, and risks that might pose.— variant, new variants, and risks that might pose. variant, new variants, and risks that miaht ose. ,, .,~ ., that might pose. let speak about the requirement — that might pose. let speak about the requirement for _ that might pose. let speak about the requirement for people _ that might pose. let speak about the requirement for people to _ that might pose. let speak about the requirement for people to have i that might pose. let speak about the requirement for people to have a i requirement for people to have a negative test before arriving in england. there is a delay to that. the government is calling it a grace period rather than a delay, so i knew once there, yet scotland are saying this is taking effect there immediately. so saying this is taking effect there immediately-— saying this is taking effect there immediatel . , ' . immediately. so why the difference? well, this is — immediately. so why the difference? well, this is the — immediately. so why the difference? well, this is the new _ immediately. so why the difference? well, this is the new requirement i well, this is the new requirement brought in everyone arriving at the border who is not from a country on the travel corridors list has to produce this negative covid test, done within 72 hours of travelling and arriving here. if you fail to produce one, you could face a £500 fine, meant to come into force tomorrow morning, but that's been pushed back until monday. that was a

late—night announcement, 11pm last night, from grant shapps, the transport secretary. he said that was because they were trying to give travellers more time to get to grips with the requirement, partly because of the difficulties of getting tests in some places, the need for everyone to get up to speed with regulations, but that has met with quite a critical response. the scottish thing is because scotland is pressing ahead with the measures anyway, but the criticism has come from the opposition, from labour who have said that this just reinforces their message. you had the nick thomas—symonds mp, the labour shadow home secretary, he said this morning the government has lacked a competitive airport testing strategy throughout the pandemic, ministers are too slow to act and its putting people at serious risk. yvette cooper, who chairs the home affairs

select committee, also from labour, she has been commenting this morning, saying it is truly shocking and what labour are focusing on these two questions they are trying to push, that the gum has been slow to push, that the gum has been slow to act and defences at the border have been weaker and slower to put in place than other countries. damian grammaticas, thank you very much. coronavirus vaccines will be available at a small number of high street pharmacies in england from today. it's part of a pilot project that will see hundreds of stores offering vaccinations in the next two weeks. here's our health correspondent dominic hughes. six pharmacies in england that are big enough to allow for social distancing. stores run by boots, superdrug and independent pharmacists like this one in macclesfield will be the first to offer the vaccine today. but over the next fortnight, many more community pharmacies should join them.

we're delighted that pharmacy teams, who have been on the health service frontline throughout the pandemic, are joining this great national effort to defeat the virus. they are, as you know, in the community, and very convenient, so it's a really proud moment for community pharmacy and a moment of hope for all of us, really. the roll—out of the two coronavirus vaccines is accelerating. the jab will soon be available at around 2,700 sites across the uk. as well as hospitals, gp surgeries and the big vaccination hubs that came into operation on monday, around 200 community pharmacies should come online in the next two weeks, with more to follow. you need to receive a letter inviting you to make an appointment for a jab. people are being asked not to turn up without an appointment, but high street pharmacists are experienced in regularly administering annual flu jabs, and they will be needed if the government is going to meet its target of vaccinating millions of the most vulnerable as well as health and care workers by mid—february.

dominic hughes, bbc news. new research suggests that the majority of people who've had covid—19 are protected from becoming ill again for at least five months.the study by public health england says that despite this, those who've been infected already may still carry and transmit the virus. 0ur science correspondent rebecca morelle has more. coronavirus is spreading fast, and the number of people who've already had covid is rising. this latest study looked at how likely they are to catch it again. 6,500 healthcare workers who'd been infected in the past were tracked and given regular tests. most were protected from the virus for at least five months. and they're now being monitored to see how long this immunity lasts. but there were a few reinfections, with 44 potential cases detected, and some had high enough levels of the virus to put them at risk

what we're saying here is, it is good, it's protecting people, but it's not 100% protective, and therefore, people still need to follow the rules until we know more about this, both on the durability of the response and also understand better why of these individuals have not responded or if it is particular to a certain group. so, the advice for now is to stay at home, remembering hands, face and space, whether you've had the virus or not. rebecca morelle, bbc news. california's coronavirus catastrophe is becoming a huge strain on the health care system with people waiting hours to be admitted and patients lining hospital hallways. many people travelled across the united states during the christmas period, fuelling infections. here's our correspondent sophie long. the pressure on los angeles health care system has reached new, dangerous and desperate levels. ambulance teams have been told not to take those unlikely to make it to hospital.

and doctors must decide who should receive the shrinking supplies of oxygen. heartbreaking choices for medical workers and for the families of the hundreds dying here every day. this nurse is both — covid claimed his father leo's life just after christmas. the hardest thing was seeing my father on facetime. that was really difficult. you see it on the news all the time, but when it happens to you and you see a loved one that you can't help, you can't hold their hand, so that they know you are there for them. that was very, very difficult for me. the risk of contracting coronavirus here in los angeles has never been greater than it is now. one in five people tested are testing positive. that is four times the number doing so just two months ago. public health officials are warning that it could get worse still, when hospitals

are already overflowing. people have been ordered to stay at home to stop that from happening. but more than 66,000 people in los angeles don't have a home. their lives are already a constant battle for survival. now they must confront covid also. this new semi permanent structure was built to give shelter to more than 100 women, instead, it has become a makeshift covid board. its intended occupants remain on the streets, wear facemasks and sanitiser, protection from the pandemic are luxuries that few can afford. this is the most terrific battle that we have ever been in in 130 years in our history. this is relentless and every move we make, it gets overcome by covid and we have to make a new move. the national guard are now on the ground, here, learning how to protect themselves as they assist medical workers overwhelmed and exhausted by this six fold surge in admissions.

but why is it happening? why here and why now? we have been too indecisive. we have too many, what i call, implementation bottlenecks. we know what we need to do, but we can't get out there. but we can't get it out there. we're not creating solutions to very big problems and so i think that all of that, basically, a confluence of badness, i call it that is creating the surge that we are experiencing right now. disneyland and the la dodgers stadium have now been transformed into mass vaccination sites, in the hope of stopping the super surge. sophie long, bbc news, los angeles. doctors from the british asian community are helping with efforts to tackle covid in pakistan. the charity midland doctors has been working with hospitals in azad kashmir to provide training and equipment used by the uk's national health service. anisa kadri reports.

covid patients at a government—run hospital in azad kashmir in pakistan. it's one of the centres there getting help from a charity led by british asian doctors. we are packing some equipment and medicines. midland doctors are helping our department of health in training, capacity building, logistics, medication and lab investigations. we are doing much better as compared to six months back. with around 500,000 cases and more than 10,000 deaths, pakistan has been fighting a second wave of coronavirus. why do you think pakistan has fared a bit better than some places thought it would? the proportion of younger population in pakistan is much higher compared to the west. and secondly, the community at large, it seems to be they are exposed to infectious diseases more and the immune system is, we can say, it is more competent to deal with infectious diseases, this could be an explanation.

midland doctors operates from a hospital it built in the region, providing free care after medics from nottingham and derby flew out to help earthquake victims and noticed a need for more healthcare provision. as well as life—saving equipment and medicine for covid, the charity is also training staff out there. we set up eight different online courses for staff and doctors and paramedical staff to treat covid, how to treat sepsis, how to run the ventilators, how to run the cpap machine, how to oxygenate patients and so on and so forth. there is a sense of solidarity between medics thousands of miles apart fighting this pandemic. staff members need to look after themselves and even if it is a case of being in touch with them online regularly and asking, i think that would be something that we can in the near future really help to develop. and as a junior doctor in the thick of covid recently, i feel that i can share some of my experiences and help with that journey that young doctors are going through, and nurses and other health professionals. as pakistan, like everywhere else,

pins its hopes on the vaccine, the charity says it will continue its work to plug gaps in the country's healthcare system. anisa kadri, bbc news. this there's striking new evidence this morning of the huge impact covid is having on the treatment of other illnesses. the latest nhs england figures show a further rise in the number of people waiting to start routine hospital treatment. a total of 4.46 million people were waiting to start hospital treatment in england at the end of november 2020, the highest number since records began. i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick triggle. i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri - le. i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. the situation in hospit clearly is absolutely i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. the situation in hospit clearly is absolutely critical, i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. the situation in hospit clearly is absolutely critical, it i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. the situation in hospit clearly is absolutely critical, it is i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. the situation in hospit clearly is absolutely critical, it is the i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. the situation in hospit is absolutely critical, it is the highest i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick triggle. is absolutely critical, it is the highest i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. number is absolutely critical, it is the highest i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. number we is absolutely critical, it is the highest i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. number we have is absolutely critical, it is the highest i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. number we have seen highest number we have seen, not a surprise i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri - le. highest number we have seen, not a surprise i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. in highest number we have seen, not a surprise i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. in some highest number we have seen, not a surprise i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. in some ways? highest number we have seen, not a surprise i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. in some ways? it highest number we have seen, not a surprise i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. in some ways? it is highest number we have seen, not a surprise i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. in some ways? it is no surprise in some ways? it is not, we know i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri - le. surprise in some ways? it is not, we know i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. that

surprise in some ways? it is not, we know i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. that one surprise in some ways? it is not, we know i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. that one in surprise in some ways? it is not, we know i'm joined now by our health correspondent nick tri- -le. that one in three surprise in some ways? it is not, we know that one in three people in hospital have a covid, in some hospitals, it is over one in two, and that has had an impact on every aspect of how hospitals run and their services. and what we got todayis their services. and what we got today is details about that impact on those services. firstly, let's look at a&e, and when patients are admitted via a&e into hospital, they have to be found a bed, and we can see from here that one in four patients who needed to be found a bed, and this includes both covid and non—covid patient, waited over four hours for that bad. that is known as a trolley wait, mainly waiting in corridors or side rooms because there is no bed available. and we know also that around 1%, still a record high, and we know also that around 1%, stilla record high, number of patients, waited over 12 hours for that bed to become available. in routine care, this is hip and knee operations, the sort of care you

have just been talking about, record numbers on the waiting list at 4.46 million, the highest since these records began in 2007. what i would say about that is, we also know there are potentially millions of patients who have not even found themselves on waiting lists during themselves on waiting lists during the pandemic because they have not got referrals for their gps. and to put a bit more context to those figures, 192,000 of those patients have been waiting over one year for treatment. again that is the highest since 2008. in february, before the pandemic, it wasjust1600. since 2008. in february, before the pandemic, it wasjust 1600. 160c! pandemic, it was 'ust1600. 1600 versus 192,000, — pandemic, it wasjust 1600. 1600 versus 192,000, that _ pandemic, it wasjust 1600. 1600 versus 192,000, that is _ pandemic, it wasjust 1600. 1600 versus 192,000, that is quite a jump, versus 192,000, that is quite a jump, isn't it? and very striking. throughout the pandemic we have heard medical professionals urging people, if they have symptoms that they are concerned about, whether it is chest pains or they are worried they might have symptoms of cancer,

to please come forward and make sure that they get into the system and are seen. presumably that is a message that is still being spread? the nhs is still saying it is open for business and patients should come forward if they are worried about symptoms. but what we can see also in this data is that the numbers coming into a&e are down from what they would normally be. at this time of the year you would expect to see 2.1 million, 2.2 million, patients come forward each month to a&e. but at the moment it is around 1.5 million, so, well down. these could be patients with cancer symptoms or symptoms of heart problems, not coming forward. 0n cancer care, one of the difficulties the nhs is facing is that they are having to cancel some of that treatment, some of that quite urgent treatment. we've heard of hospitals cancelling what is known as priority

two operations, operations that have to be done within 28 days of the diagnosis. so, there are some serious problems. we are hearing birmingham in kidney transplants are being delayed, put off for the time being. clearly whilst the nhs is urging patients to come forward if they need help, it is struggling to provide some of these key services. joining me now is sue patey from berkshire. she was due to have double joint replacement surgery on her hand last year — that never happened and she is still waiting for her procedure. thank you very much for talking to us today, i'm sure you are listening to those figures, and you are one of those 4.46 million people waiting to start this treatment, and as far as i understand it, you haven't even managed to have your preoperational assessment yet?—

assessment yet? well, i think that actually changed _ assessment yet? well, i think that actually changed yesterday, i i assessment yet? well, i think that actually changed yesterday, i had l assessment yet? well, i think that i actually changed yesterday, i had my pre—op appointment on the telephone. so, that happened very quickly. but my original pre—op appointment was last march, which was cancelled because it was just as lockdown started and it has taken them from march to january to catch up with me again. butjust because i have got the pre—op appointment done does not guarantee me any surgery. the pre—op has a lifespan of three months. 50. has a lifespan of three months. so, in that conversation yesterday, where you given any suggestion of when the operation might actually happen? when the operation might actually ha--en? . when the operation might actually ha 0 en? ., ., when the operation might actually ha en? ., ., ., when the operation might actually hauen? ., ., ., ., when the operation might actually happen?_ so - when the operation might actually happen?_ so you i happen? no, none at all. so you miaht happen? no, none at all. so you might have _ happen? no, none at all. so you might have to — happen? no, none at all. so you might have to repeat _ happen? no, none at all. so you might have to repeat the - happen? no, none at all. so you l might have to repeat the process? yes, if i have to wait another three months, that process will be repeated again.— months, that process will be repeated again. so, tell us more about your _ repeated again. so, tell us more about your hand _ repeated again. so, tell us more about your hand and _ repeated again. so, tell us more about your hand and the - repeated again. so, tell us more about your hand and the issues | repeated again. so, tell us more i about your hand and the issues and how it affects your every day life?

well, i've had several operations on my hand, i've had trapezium, where they removed parts of my thumb joint, on both hands, and rebuilt it. and now i'm waiting for a double joint replacement on my middle finger on my right hand. i am right—handed and my right finger is a very swollen, it is bent over, so, my right hand is virtually useless. i can't use any cutlery in the kitchen, so, food preparation is out. i can't even manage to pick up a hot cup of tea and carry it with my right hand. so i am now using my left hand a lot more, and as a result the arthritis on my left hand is getting worse as well. so it affects every _ is getting worse as well. so it affects every aspect - is getting worse as well. so it affects every aspect of - is getting worse as well. so it affects every aspect of your i is getting worse as well. so it affects every aspect of your life, all those daily activities.- all those daily activities. yeah, everything _ all those daily activities. yeah, everything i — all those daily activities. yeah, everything i do. _ all those daily activities. yeah, everything i do, even - all those daily activities. yeah, everything i do, even turning l all those daily activities. yeah, l everything i do, even turning the lights switch on and off hurts the

top joints of my fingers. hair? lights switch on and off hurts the topjoints of my fingers.- lights switch on and off hurts the topjoints of my fingers. how do you feel about the _ topjoints of my fingers. how do you feel about the situation _ topjoints of my fingers. how do you feel about the situation that - topjoints of my fingers. how do you feel about the situation that you i feel about the situation that you are in. 0bviously feel about the situation that you are in. obviously in normal times you would have hoped to have had the operation by now and to be returning to some sort of normality, do you feel frustrated? i'm sure you understand the pressure hospitals are under. {lit understand the pressure hospitals are under. _, , , ., are under. of course i understand. are ou are under. of course i understand. are you frustrated _ are under. of course i understand. are you frustrated or _ are under. of course i understand. are you frustrated or are _ are under. of course i understand. are you frustrated or are you i are under. of course i understand. | are you frustrated or are you trying to be patient? i are you frustrated or are you trying to be patient?— to be patient? i am a little bit frustrated _ to be patient? i am a little bit frustrated at _ to be patient? i am a little bit frustrated at times, _ to be patient? i am a little bit frustrated at times, i - to be patient? i am a little bit frustrated at times, i think i frustrated at times, i think yesterday when they called me and said, we are being more proactive now so we are ready for when we can start looking to do more elective surgery again, so they are a bit more ahead of the game than they were out of the end of the first lockdown. but it is still, like, how long is a piece of string? and of course once you've had the operation you're talking six months recovery minimum. so i will not be able to use my hand properly for two or three months. find use my hand properly for two or three months.— use my hand properly for two or three months. and i guess you 'ust wish that absolutely i three months. and i guess you 'ust wish that absolutely everybody i three months. and i guess you just l wish that absolutely everybody would abide by the rules and help get the cases of the virus down so that

things like other hospital services, non—covid services, can get up and running in the way they were before the pandemic?— the pandemic? yes. yes. this morning. _ the pandemic? yes. yes. this morning. my _ the pandemic? yes. yes. this morning, my son _ the pandemic? yes. yes. this morning, my son has - the pandemic? yes. yes. this morning, my son hasjust i the pandemic? yes. yes. this i morning, my son hasjust tested morning, my son has just tested positive as well, so, you know, it is everywhere. i can't go and see my elderly mother, but i won't go and do anything, it is just stay home and stay safe and i hope that everybody will do this and life can return to some sort of normality, whatever that might look like in the future. ., , whatever that might look like in the future. ., ., whatever that might look like in the future. ., , ., future. two, stay safe, i do hope that ou future. two, stay safe, i do hope that you get _ future. two, stay safe, i do hope that you get your _ future. two, stay safe, i do hope that you get your operation i future. two, stay safe, i do hope that you get your operation soon | future. two, stay safe, i do hope i that you get your operation soon and i hope that your son is ok as well. thank you very much for talking to us, sue patey, in berkshire, one of the 4.46 million people in those latest nhs figures who are waiting to start hospital treatment. the taoiseach has apologised after an investigation into ireland's mother and baby homes. established in the 19th and 20th centuries, the institutions housed women and girls who became

pregnant outside marriage. a report found an "appalling level of infant mortality". micheal martin apologised for the "profound and generational wrong" to survivors of mother—and—baby homes. about 9,000 children died in the 18 institutions under investigation. we can speak now to damejudi dench, who played philomena lee in the 2013 film philomena, which was based on the real—life story of a mother's search for the son she was forced to give up for adoption in 1950s ireland. it is really good to have you with us today, damejudi, i believe you have had a coronavirus vaccine? . i have had a coronavirus vaccine? , i had, i had one i think a week ago and so my next is in something like 11 weeks' time. that is a great start. �* 11 weeks' time. that is a great start. . 11 weeks' time. that is a great start. �* ., 11 weeks' time. that is a great start. ., ., ., start. and you are looking forward to caettin start. and you are looking forward to getting that _ start. and you are looking forward to getting that second _ start. and you are looking forward

to getting that second one, i i to getting that second one, i imagine. and how have you been living of late, what have you had to do, what things have you had to curtail? i do, what things have you had to curtail? ., , ., ., curtail? i was going to film something _ curtail? i was going to film something which _ curtail? i was going to film something which has i curtail? i was going to film something which has been| curtail? i was going to film - something which has been actually postponed, but i was able during this time to film with kenneth branagh, who wrote and directed a film about his childhood, in belfast. so, that was... we all went to incredible lengths in taking every precaution, and masks and everything, so we were very, very well looked after. but it was a huge relief to do something. it is exciting, too. at that time. 0therwise, exciting, too. at that time. otherwise, you know, you wake up and you think, what is the thing i will do today? and try and get something done. , ., ., . do today? and try and get something done. , . ., . ., do today? and try and get something done. , ., ., . ., ., done. yes, we are all itching to do something — done. yes, we are all itching to do something approaching _ done. yes, we are all itching to do something approaching our - done. yes, we are all itching to do | something approaching our normal behaviour. so, for you to have been able to actually film that must have

been a reallyjoyous thing? it certainly was. gosh, it made everything very different, the thing of working, it was glorious. it's very difficult if you've not got a kind of work discipline to get yourself started in the morning, really. terribly easy to just sit and do nothing. really. terribly easy to 'ust sit and do nothingi really. terribly easy to 'ust sit and do nothing. let's talk about philomena. _ and do nothing. let's talk about philomena, following _ and do nothing. let's talk about philomena, following earlier- and do nothing. let's talk about philomena, following earlier inl and do nothing. let's talk about i philomena, following earlier in the week that apology from the irish prime minister to the survivors of those mother and baby homes, what did you make of that news? i'm sure you must have followed this process with a lot of interest? i you must have followed this process with a lot of interest?— with a lot of interest? i did, and i was lucky — with a lot of interest? i did, and i was lucky enough, _ with a lot of interest? i did, and i was lucky enough, before - with a lot of interest? i did, and i l was lucky enough, before filming, with a lot of interest? i did, and i i was lucky enough, before filming, to meet philomena. so, i got to know her. a very, very remarkable is her. and so i feel as if i know the very tip of the iceberg of all this. and

i cannot imagine, i can't imagine, i mean, to getan i cannot imagine, i can't imagine, i mean, to get an apology all of this time laterfrom the mean, to get an apology all of this time later from the tee—shot anyway, i suppose it goes a little way to the heartrending pain of all those mothers who never knew what happened. and have spent their whole lives not knowing, and in the case of philomena, see she searched for anthony and eventually found him, after terrible years of pain and not knowing. ijust can't imagine, i suppose, an apology goes some way to somehow putting things slightly at rest after such a long time. i wonder what it was like for you to play that role. you have of course

played many fictional characters, but to play someone who you were able actually to meet and to hear first—hand what she had gone through, what was that like for you? well, it was having first—hand knowledge, as you say, first—hand knowledge, as you say, first—hand knowledge right on your doorstep. because she was there much of the time, philomena. and so, you know, it wasn't something that you had to feed into your imagination or work out with a director. it was there all the time and i had her story right there. did all the time and i had her story right there-— all the time and i had her story riaht there. , .,, ., right there. did it feel as though ou had a right there. did it feel as though you had a greater _ right there. did it feel as though you had a greater burden - right there. did it feel as though j you had a greater burden almost right there. did it feel as though i you had a greater burden almost on your shoulders to try to tell the story of injustice?— your shoulders to try to tell the story of injustice? story of in'ustice? well, it was a tric story of injustice? well, it was a tricky time. _ story of injustice? well, it was a tricky time. i — story of injustice? well, it was a tricky time, i think _ story of injustice? well, it was a tricky time, i think the - story of injustice? well, it was a tricky time, i think the film i story of injustice? well, it was a tricky time, i think the film was| tricky time, i think the film was shown, and philomena was there privately, before it came out, that was a tricky time. i hope that it

drew attention to what happened, because i thought the story was wonderfully written and based on martin's story. and i hope it drew attention to what happened and the plight of so many women. find attention to what happened and the plight of so many women. and perhaps art of the plight of so many women. and perhaps part of the reason _ plight of so many women. and perhaps part of the reason why _ plight of so many women. and perhaps part of the reason why at _ plight of so many women. and perhaps part of the reason why at the _ part of the reason why at the beginning of this week there was that apology?— beginning of this week there was thataolo: ? . �*, ., that apology? that's right. i wonder what they feel _ that apology? that's right. i wonder what they feel about _ that apology? that's right. i wonder what they feel about that. _ that apology? that's right. i wonder what they feel about that. well, i'm sure it did a — what they feel about that. well, i'm sure it did a lot _ what they feel about that. well, i'm sure it did a lot to _ what they feel about that. well, i'm sure it did a lot to draw— what they feel about that. well, i'm sure it did a lot to draw the - sure it did a lot to draw the world's attention to it and therefore add pressure, i would imagine to all of those people in ireland who have been calling for a long time for an apology. yes. ireland who have been calling for a long time for an apology. yes, some kind of recognition _ long time for an apology. yes, some kind of recognition of— long time for an apology. yes, some kind of recognition of the _ long time for an apology. yes, some kind of recognition of the pain i long time for an apology. yes, some kind of recognition of the pain that i kind of recognition of the pain that they suffered for years and years and years and years, and still not knowing where their children went. as we mentioned, you've had your first coronavirus vaccine, you're looking forward to a second one, and

do you hope, i'm sure you do, but do you believe that these vaccines are their way to get back to some sort of normality, and to theatres in particular opening again? as you say, various tv and film productions have been able to go ahead, socially distanced, but theatres are still in a hugely difficult spot? yes. distanced, but theatres are still in a hugely difficult spot?— a hugely difficult spot? yes, i don't know. _ a hugely difficult spot? yes, i don't know, you _ a hugely difficult spot? yes, i don't know, you can - a hugely difficult spot? yes, i don't know, you can only i a hugely difficult spot? yes, i i don't know, you can only hope, you can only hope, that this is the right way. theatres ought to have people in them, and anyone who's ever gone into a great empty theatre at any time will know that it is a very, very curious feeling. and the fact that they're standing empty, with no audiences, during the lockdown, suddenly one realises, you just need social contact with people. just the thing of sitting next to somebody in a theatre or in

a cinema or supper, even, or at lunch. those are the things you suddenly realise that you take for granted, when this is not happening. but when it is happening, it's appalling and terrible for all the community of people in theatres, not just the actors but all the crews and the stage door men and everybody who looks after the theatre, the cleaners, they're not doing anything. cleaners, they're not doing anything-— cleaners, they're not doing an hina. , �*, anything. yes, it's hugely symbolic, i think, anything. yes, it's hugely symbolic, i think. and — anything. yes, it's hugely symbolic, i think, and there _ anything. yes, it's hugely symbolic, i think, and there are _ anything. yes, it's hugely symbolic, i think, and there are various i i think, and there are various things we are missing right now which are very much symbolic of life the way it was, whether it is sitting in a cinema watching a movie, going to a theatre to watch a performance, ora movie, going to a theatre to watch a performance, or a concert to watch a band. those are real symbols of the way we were?— band. those are real symbols of the way we were?_ well, | way we were? aren't there? well, let's ho -e way we were? aren't there? well, let's hope that _ way we were? aren't there? well, let's hope that we _ way we were? aren't there? well, let's hope that we do _ way we were? aren't there? well, let's hope that we do get - way we were? aren't there? well, let's hope that we do get back- way we were? aren't there? well, let's hope that we do get back to i let's hope that we do get back to them very, very soon. damejudi dench, so good to talk to you, thank

you very much for your time today joining us on bbc news.— you very much for your time today joining us on bbc news. thank you so much. germany says it has returned the last of 14 highly valuable paintings to the heirs of their original jewish owners after they were stolen by the nazis during world war 2. the paintings came from a trove of 1,500 artworks, discovered in a munich flat in 2012. paul hawkins reports. this is das klavierspiel, or playing the piano, by carl spitzweg, seized by the nazis in 1939. some 80 years later, the wishes of its originaljewish owner have finally been fulfilled and it has been handed over to sotheby�*s in london. the last of 14 priceless artworks to be returned to their owners that were identified as stolen by the nazis during world war ii. they came from this munich flat, an incredible hoard of 1,500 paintings, including by picasso and matisse, discovered by tax investigators seven years ago.

the home of this man, cornelius gurlitt, whose father, hildebrand gurlitt, was an art dealerfor the nazis. inside his collection, a renoir portrait, a manet seascape, or this monet depiction of london's waterloo bridge, which is worth millions today. the museum of fine arts in switzerland inherited the collection when gurlitt died in 2014, but they've spent the past five years working out which paintings were legitimately owned and which were stolen. germany's culture minister said... archive: in a mountain cave here in berchtesgaden, i goring's secret treasure trove i was located by american soldiers. some experts estimate the nazis stole 20% of all of the art ever made, and that 20 billion euros

worth is still out there, waiting to be discovered, potentially reunited with the owners of its families. paul hawkins, bbc news. taking a holiday might not be possible at the moment, but tour operators say more britons are booking for the summer as confidence in the vaccine grows. the travel firm national express say they've seen 185% growth in the last two weeks and tui say bookings havejumped by 50% in the same period. our business reporter simon browning has more. holidays. millions of us missed out last year. no sea, no sun, no long sunset drinks. instead we got cancellations and refunds. now as the mass roll—out of the vaccine gets under way, tour operators say we're booking again and looking for sunnier climes. we launched our spring/summer brochure this weekend gone, and on monday we took a week's worth of bookings in a day.

jet runs holidays and tours for national express coach businesses. booking have surged by 185% in the 65—plus market, compared with the same period last year. many of them have had their first jab and they know within 12 weeks they will receive their second jab. that gives a level of certainty, certainty that they can enjoy and look forward to their 2021 holiday. it is giving them something to look forward to because when you book a holiday, there is the lead—up time, excitement and anticipation. with so many of us stuck at home for months on end, 2020 meant lots of us have not been further than the kitchen. or maybe you were lucky enough to have a few trips to the garden. maybe you have had a few trips to the shops. people wanting to start travelling again is great news for an industry that has had a terrible ten months. tui is the uk's biggest tour operator. greece, turkey and spain

are our favourites. but at the moment, everything is suspended. in the last few weeks, over 50% of our booking on our website have been the over—50s. the tui uk boss says they're seeing the same trend. we're seeing people booking longer holidays. rather than the straight seven nights, they're booking tens, 11s and 14s. maybe trying to catch a bit of that missed holiday backup. we are seeing them go into more multi—generational and broader groups. it's a bit more of a biggerfamily holiday that is coming through. whilst we all dream, it has been a tough year for the industry. abta estimates 90,000 jobs have been lost. this is utterly fantastic news, hugely welcomed by an industry that has been entirely devastated by this pandemic. ten months into this crisis and the travel industry has still received zero dedicated financial support from the government. so, this is the first sign

of the light at the end of the tunnel for the sector. who isn't going to want a holiday after the annus horribilis that was 2020? we're all yearning for the sun, when our days seem so long and dark. but the vaccine is bringing hope and sunnier, brighter moments to come. simon browning, bbc news. few industries have been harder hit by the pandemic than hollywood, where revenues have plummeted to a 40—year low. tim allman reports. iconic, familiar, unchanging. the hollywood sign may be constant, but the fortunes of the industry it represents are anything but. the cinemas and picture houses of la, along with many other cities across the nation, remain closed, and that has had a dramatic impact on the bottom line. according to research firm comscore, the industry generated $11.4 billion in revenue in 2019,

but 12 months later, it was only $2.2 billion, a drop of 80%. and that's the worst performance since 1981, when the industry generated less than $1 billion in revenue. film after film have had their release dates postponed, and then postponed again. there will be nothing left to save. the latestjames bond movie, no time to die, is due to open in april, but there's speculation it might move to the autumn. christopher nolan's tenet did appear in cinemas worldwide, but its performance was seen as disappointing. the recent wonder woman sequel was released in movie theatres but also streamed online at the same time. streaming services have been the big winners.

companies like netflix, amazon prime and disney+ have seen revenues booming. the question is, will we all flock back to the cinemas when the pandemic ends or is this the new normal? tim allman, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith—lucas. this was the picture earlier in county durham, weather warnings out for that heavy snowfall throughout the course of the day, and it is likely to cause some disruption to travel today. there is also a lot of ice around. the milder air is holding on in the south and the west but we have got this cold air in the north and east which will be coming

south during today. more snowfall to come across parts of central scotland and northern england. it will mainly be rain across east anglia and the south—east. but we could see a bit of wintriness further south later on this afternoon. drierand milderweather afternoon. drier and milder weather holding afternoon. drierand milderweather holding on in the south—west. this afternoon and this evening, most of the rain, sleet and snow will tend to fizzle out and dissipate, so things become largely dry tonight. still quite a lot of low cloud, mist and fog developing overnight, freezing fog, as temperatures for many of us will be down below freezing. some icy stretches first thing tomorrow morning, some of them could be quite stubborn and slow to clear. high pressure is coming in from the south—west, fairly light winds and largely dry on friday. but watch out for those lingering freezing fog patches for some of us

during the day. most places should have some brightness developing in the afternoon tomorrow. but temperatures still on the cold side for the time of year. a quiet, largely dry but cold day to come on friday. in the weekend, there is weather front will bring rain and hill snow on saturday. it should clear away relatively quickly as high pressure builds in the second half of the weekend. it should be mostly dry by sunday. a bit up and down this weekend. a mild, breezy, wet day on the cards for most of us on saturday, sunday looks like the colder, drier day of the weekend.

this is bbc news. i'm martine croxall. the headlines at 11.00. nearly 4.5 million people were waiting to start hospital treatment in england at the end of november — the highest number since records began. in birmingham, kidney transplants are temporarily suspended as nhs services struggle to cope with covid—19. from this morning the coronavirus vaccine will be made available at some high street pharmacies in england. it comes as ministers discuss whether to stop flights from brazil coming to the uk amid concerns over a new variant of coronavirus there. international scientists arrive in wuhan in china to investigate the origins of covid—19. donald trump bcomes the first president to be impeached twice. in a video released after the vote,

mr trump called on his followers to remain peaceful. mob violence goes against everything i believe in and everything our movement stands for. no true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. and andy murray's participation at the australian open is in doubt after the former world number one tests positive for coronavirus. good morning and welcome to bbc news. a record number of people are waiting to start routine hospital treatment — that's according to the latest nhs england figures. a total of 4.46 million people were on the waiting list in england at the end of last november, the highest number

since records began. it comes as a hospitals trust in birmingham has temporarily suspended kidney transplants due to the critical covid—19 situation in the city. meanwhile the coronavirus vaccines will be available at a small number of high street pharmacies in england from this morning. it's part of a pilot project that should see hundreds more community pharmacies offering the jabs in the next two weeks. a study suggests most people who have had covid—19 are protected from becoming ill again for at least five months. but the research, by public health england, found those who've been infected could still carry and transmit the virus. and concerns are growing about a new variant of the disease which originated in brazil. ministers are meeting to discuss whether to stop flights from the country. we'll have more on those stories in the next hour — but first our health correspondent nick triggle has more on those record hospital waiting lists. we know currently about one in three

people in hospital have covid. in one places its one in three, and that has an impact on how hospitals are run in their services, and we have details on services. if we look at a&e, when patients are admitted via n and e into hospital, they have to be found a bed, and we can see from here these patients who needed to be found about, covid and non—c0vid patients, they needed to wait, and they'll be waiting in corridors or side rooms because there is no bed available, and we know also that around 1%, so, a minority, but still a record high number of patients waited over 12 hours for that bed to become available. in routine care, this is hip and knee operations, the sort of

care we have just been talking about, record numbers on the waiting list, 4.6 million, that is the highest since these records began in 2007, and what i would say about thatis 2007, and what i would say about that is we also know there is potentially millions of patients who haven't even found themselves on writing this during the pandemic because they haven't got referrals from their gps, and to put a bit more context to those figures, 192,000 of those patients have been waiting over one year for treatment. again, that's the highest since 2008. in february, before the pandemic, it wasjust1600 2008. in february, before the pandemic, it wasjust 1600 patients. the nhs are still saying it is open for business and patients should come forward if they are worried about symptoms, but what we can see also in this data is that the numbers come into a&e are down from what they normally would be at this time of year. you would normally see 2.1, 2.2 million patients come forward each month to a&e, and at

the moment it is at the 1.5 million mark, so, well down on that, and these can be patients with cancer symptoms or symptoms of heart problems not coming forward. 0n cancer care, though, one of the difficulties the nhs is facing is that they are having to cancel some of that treatment, some of that quite urgent treatment. we have heard of hospitals cancelling what is known as priority to operations, and these are operations that have to be done within 28 days of the diagnosis, so, there are some serious problems. we are hearing in birmingham, kidney transplants are being delayed, put off for the time being, so, clearly, while the nhs is urging patients to come forward if they do need help, it is struggling to provide some of these key services. joining me now is saffron cordery deputy chief executive of nhs providers.

set this record number into context for us, because we have seen some pics in the past. had does this compare cool? compare this pics in the past. had does this comar , , . , , compare this is the incredibly challenging — compare this is the incredibly challenging situation - compare this is the incredibly challenging situation that i compare this is the incredibly challenging situation that the | compare this is the incredibly i challenging situation that the nhs finds itself in. we have been worried about this at the beginning of the pandemic, which was whether we can get through the first wave, but we knew that a second wave coinciding with winter would be incredibly challenging, and that is what we are saying. particularly difficult is that nearly 200,000 long waiters, people waiting over a yearfor long waiters, people waiting over a year for elective care, routine care, we know that within that group there will be many people whose conditions, and it's not a good place for patients or staff. people

going to the nhs because they want to work in the current profession and help people, and when they are in a position where they can't, that's incredibly frustrating. 0ne that's incredibly frustrating. one of the figures we do also need to think about, because it contributes hugely to the pressure that the nhs is under is actually the staff absence rates that have been highlighted today, so, 100,000 staff absences were reported on the 6th of january. 50% of those were due to covid either illness or isolation. thatjust illustrates covid either illness or isolation. that just illustrates the covid either illness or isolation. thatjust illustrates the huge pressure that covid is putting on staffing, which, meeting that high divine due to covid is incredibly challenging. divine due to covid is incredibly challenging-— divine due to covid is incredibly challenauin. ~ . ., ,, . challenging. what with the absence rate normally _ challenging. what with the absence rate normally be? _ challenging. what with the absence rate normally be? probably - challenging. what with the absence rate normally be? probably around | rate normally be? probably around half that. ithink— rate normally be? probably around half that. l think that's _ rate normally be? probably around half that. i think that's an - rate normally be? probably around half that. i think that's an absence | half that. i think that's an absence rates of around 10%, and we would usually see at this time of year and

absence rates of between four and 6%, so we are seeing a much higher absence rate, which causes challenges, because it's notjust absence rate that affects full—time nhs that it also affects those who work as temporary staff, locums, in banks, as well, so it's notjust about finding replacements, it's about finding replacements, it's about finding replacements for the replacements, if you get my drift, and that is incredibly challenging. when we look at the waiting list figures that we have got at the moment, these are from november, how likely is it that we will get the more up—to—date figures and it will be even higher? of course there are people who have not even started the process of diagnosis year, we don't even know about them. absolutely, i think we can — even know about them. absolutely, i think we can expect, _ even know about them. absolutely, i think we can expect, sadly, - even know about them. absolutely, i think we can expect, sadly, these i think we can expect, sadly, these figures to worsen. we know that a number of trusts have been trying to keep going with the routine care for as long as possible, so, some trusts

will have only decided to cancel over the christmas period rather than before in november, which these figures reflect, so i think the logic of that does say that we will expect the figures probably to worsen over the coming months. we have to hope that once we come down from the peak of this pandemic we will then be able to see the nhs start to recover, but that will be a long slowjourney of recovery, because we are talking about not only making up the backlog, but also helping staff focus on the additional inputs that they will need to make, and focus on recovering staff position, as well as patient position. it is really, really challenging at the moment. so, how do you catch up, then? you said it will be immensely challenging, it is cold comfort to those people who haven't had potentially life saving treatment during this period. what you need,

to be able to catch up and get on top of those waiting lists as fast as possible? it top of those waiting lists as fast as possible?— top of those waiting lists as fast as possible? it is absolutely cold comfort, as possible? it is absolutely cold comfort. i _ as possible? it is absolutely cold comfort, i agree _ as possible? it is absolutely cold comfort, i agree with _ as possible? it is absolutely cold comfort, i agree with your i as possible? it is absolutely cold | comfort, i agree with your words, there, no one is suggesting that the nhs take this lightly. we really don't. we have to do is be realistic about the pace of catch up on the pace of recovery once we are down from the peak of the pandemic, i think it would be a really big focus, then, an elective care, which will be about using all the capacity we have available, whether that is in the nhs or in the independent sector, and i know there are ongoing conversations between the nhs and private hospitals about how they are supporting and making a really welcome contribution, but it will be about using all available capacity to do that whilst also making sure that we do still, however

challenging this is, we do still encourage people to come forward for treatment, because it is absolutely critical that people are diagnosed as early as possible if they have a worrying condition. some high street pharmacies in england will start vaccinating people from priority groups on thursday, with 200 providing jabs in the next two weeks. six locations have opened so far — offering appointments by letter. dominic hughes reports. six pharmacies in england that are big enough to allow for social distancing. stores run by boots, superdrug and independent pharmacists like this one in macclesfield will be the first to offer the vaccine today. but over the next fortnight, many more community pharmacies should join them. we're delighted that pharmacy teams, who have been on the health service front line throughout the pandemic, are joining this great national effort to defeat the virus. they are, as you know, in the community, and very

convenient, so it's a really proud moment for community pharmacy and a moment of hope for all of us, really. the roll—out of the two coronavirus vaccines is accelerating. the jab will soon be available at around 2,700 sites across the uk. as well as hospitals, gp surgeries and the big vaccination hubs that came into operation on monday, around 200 community pharmacies should come online in the next two weeks, with more to follow. you need to receive a letter inviting you to make an appointment for a jab. people are being asked not to turn up without an appointment, but high street pharmacists are experienced in regularly administering annual flu jabs, and they will be needed if the government is going to meet its target of vaccinating millions of the most vulnerable as well as health and care workers by mid—february. dominic hughes, bbc news. joining me now is sebjames, managing director of boots uk.

thank you very much forjoining us this morning. how have you managed to set this up, then? tell us what people will find it to go to your stores for our vaccine. obviously, as boots, — stores for our vaccine. obviously, as itoots. we _ stores for our vaccine. obviously, as itoots. we are _ stores for our vaccine. obviously, as boots, we are extremely i stores for our vaccine. obviously, i as boots, we are extremely anxious that people find an excellent clinical experience when they come into our stores. we are no strangers to vaccination, we do millions every year, across travel and flu and all kinds of other things, but the most important thing about these centres, these first centres, is that they are large. they do a minimum of 1000 are large. they do a minimum of 1000 a week, which means we have socialist or socially distant spaces and a number of registered hair health care professionals on hand. what would your ultimate aim be? we what would your ultimate aim be? ,

think we can get up to half a million a week, and we are discussing with the nhs how quickly they would like us to do that. that would involve two things, firstly opening 100 of these sites like the one in halifax that we opened on a very snowy day to day, and the second thing is moving the process from being a minimum of 1000 a week to a smaller number so we can start thinking about how we can stretch this across our branches, and that would mean that people can get, very conveniently, and jab in their local boots. conveniently, and 'ab in their local boots. , , boots. yes, so some people might be invited, boots. yes, so some people might be invited. but — boots. yes, so some people might be invited. but may _ boots. yes, so some people might be invited, but may need _ boots. yes, so some people might be invited, but may need to _ boots. yes, so some people might be invited, but may need to travel - boots. yes, so some people might be invited, but may need to travel a - invited, but may need to travel a long distance. what is the answer to that? we long distance. what is the answer to that? ~ ., ., , ., that? we are hoping it will go well, and we are — that? we are hoping it will go well, and we are incredibly _ that? we are hoping it will go well, and we are incredibly keen, - that? we are hoping it will go well, and we are incredibly keen, ready l and we are incredibly keen, ready and we are incredibly keen, ready and willing to get on with it. how do ou and willing to get on with it. how do you ensure — and willing to get on with it. how do you ensure that _ and willing to get on with it. how do you ensure that you have enough qualified staff to deliver the service? as we know, they are at a premium at the moment. the?

service? as we know, they are at a premium at the moment. they really are, that premium at the moment. they really are. that is — premium at the moment. they really are. that is one _ premium at the moment. they really are, that is one of— premium at the moment. they really are, that is one of the _ premium at the moment. they really are, that is one of the big _ are, that is one of the big challenges in setting up these larger sites. a big site like the one in halifax will have 25 people working in it. to make sure that we can keep working from 8am to 8pm every day, and finding your staff and training of staff and making sure we have enough cover should somebody fall ill or need to self—isolate is the big challenge and the limiting factor. haifa self-isolate is the big challenge and the limiting factor. how secure is our and the limiting factor. how secure is your supply _ and the limiting factor. how secure is your supply these _ and the limiting factor. how secure is your supply these vaccines? - and the limiting factor. how secure is your supply these vaccines? i - is your supply these vaccines? i don't understand the question, how don't understand the question, how do you mean? haifa don't understand the question, how do you mean?— don't understand the question, how do you mean? how surely you can get hold of it? there _ do you mean? how surely you can get hold of it? there is _ do you mean? how surely you can get hold of it? there is a _ do you mean? how surely you can get hold of it? there is a huge _ do you mean? how surely you can get hold of it? there is a huge demand i hold of it? there is a huge demand for it, you will be competing for it, how can you make sure you have as much as you need? we it, how can you make sure you have as much as you need?— it, how can you make sure you have as much as you need? we don't really think of it as — as much as you need? we don't really think of it as competing, _ as much as you need? we don't really think of it as competing, for— as much as you need? we don't really think of it as competing, for two - think of it as competing, for two reasons. firstly, i have always been clear, and we were clear through the testing process, boots is not making a profit from this, so it is not an

economic issue. secondly, this is a great national effort. we have only one thing in mind, which is to get the country back on its feet, and we are pleased to be part of that effort. �* , , , ., ., effort. i'm guessing you will have to prioritise _ effort. i'm guessing you will have to prioritise your— effort. i'm guessing you will have to prioritise your own _ effort. i'm guessing you will have to prioritise your own staff, - effort. i'm guessing you will have to prioritise your own staff, to . to prioritise your own staff, to prioritise them first to make sure they are safe?— they are safe? no, we will follow they are safe? no, we will follow the protocols _ they are safe? no, we will follow the protocols that _ they are safe? no, we will follow the protocols that the _ they are safe? no, we will follow the protocols that the nhs - they are safe? no, we will follow the protocols that the nhs give l they are safe? no, we will follow. the protocols that the nhs give us. so, the nhs has ten priority groups. we will be vaccinating those groups in the order that they are issued their letters on the make appointments with us. so, we are very clear that we cannot do those sneak vaccines into anybody we want, we will make sure that we are following the right protocols. i want to go back to what you said about boots not making any money out of this, because there has been concerning criticism about contracts being given without proper tendering processes or oversight. the assumption would be that some companies would seek to profiteer. talk to us about how you are funding

this, why you are doing this, and what you are getting paid to do this. what you are getting paid to do this, .. �* what you are getting paid to do this. ., �* . ., .. this. so, i don't want to get into the details _ this. so, i don't want to get into the details of _ this. so, i don't want to get into the details of what _ this. so, i don't want to get into the details of what we _ this. so, i don't want to get into the details of what we are - this. so, i don't want to get into the details of what we are being i the details of what we are being paid, but the core amount is that we get paid 12.58 per vaccine like anybody else, and we have been very clear that throughout we have no intention of making any profit out of it. we are open book in every relationship we have, particularly with the testing, and we think that is important. i cannot really speak for others except to say that i think most of the people who operate in my industry are pretty good people, and i think most of us recognise that right now ourjob is to roll up our sleeves and get on with it. , . ~ , . with it. some breaking news about premier inn. _ with it. some breaking news about premier inn, the _ with it. some breaking news about premier inn, the hotel— with it. some breaking news about premier inn, the hotel chain, - with it. some breaking news about premier inn, the hotel chain, they| premier inn, the hotel chain, they are saying they are going to cut 1500 jobs, which is a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic. they say due to the difficult trading

environment, they had to have a consultation process last september, placing manyjobs at risk. the redundancies then towards the end of the last year. the business says thatjobs the last year. the business says that jobs were saved the last year. the business says thatjobs were saved by workers accepting reduced working hours, and of course it is very difficult for premier inn to maintain all of those jobs when people are not going to stay in their properties. so, premier and confirming 1500 jobs to be lost. new research suggests that the majority of people who've had covid—19 are protected from getting it again for at least five months. the study by public health england says that despite this, those who've been infected already may still carry and transmit the virus. 0ur science correspondent rebecca morelle has more. coronavirus is spreading fast, and the number of people who've already had covid is rising. this latest study looked at how likely they are to catch it again. 6,500 health care workers who'd been

infected in the past were tracked and given regular tests. most were protected from the virus for at least five months. and they're now being monitored to see how long this immunity lasts. but there were a few reinfections, with 44 potential cases detected, and some had high enough levels of the virus to put them at risk of spreading it to others. what we're saying here is, it is good, it's protecting people, but it's not 100% protective, and therefore, people still need to follow the rules until we know more about this, both on the durability of the response and also understand better why of these individuals have not responded or if it is particular to a certain group. so, the advice for now is to stay at home, remembering hands, face and space, whether you've had the virus or not. rebecca morelle, bbc news.

more breaking news, this time from vatican city, where we are told pope francis and his predecessor pope benedict her both received the first dose of the vaccine. both popes got theirjobs with dose of the vaccine. both popes got their jobs with the dose of the vaccine. both popes got theirjobs with the vatican vaccination programme that began yesterday. a team of 13 international scientists have arrived in the chinese city of wuhan to investigate the origins of covid—19. the world health organization has spent many months negotiating the visit with beijing. the who says it is not seeking to apportion blame for the virus, but to prevent future outbreaks. fabian leendertz is a professor in the epidemiology of highly pathogenic micro—organisms at germany's public health body, the robert koch institute. he's working with the investigation and says it will be broad in scope. fabian leendertz is a professor in the epidemiology of highly

well, the starting point is this first mission to wuhan, so, my colleagues who are on site now will check with the local scientists, which data are already available, and which are still needed to be established to then have all parts of the puzzle ready to develop a good picture on how the jump of the virus from animal to human happened. interested in finding out how it really happen, because only when you know how these academics started, you can also identify ways to reduce the risk of these things happening again in the future, and the signals we have so far by the teams on the ground now have been very positive. 0ur china correspondent robin brant joins us live from wuhan. why has there been such a delay in

this investigation getting going? china has resisted anything that looks like a semi—independent investigation from the get go. it had a white paper several months ago in the middle of last year in which it declared victory over the virus. there were mistakes early on in terms of how the authorities in wuhan dealt with it, but aside from that it was a victory in what was a war for this country. the who try to come injuly, which ended on two members of the team staying in a hotel for a fortnight and then going back home. they are here. it's a year since the outbreak began, but there are hitches even last week with visas, we understand, and issues of dates, two members of the team, the wall streetjournal team, the wall street journal reported, team, the wall streetjournal reported, did manage to come because of testing antibodies, so opted

today appears to have been problematic, but they are ready to get going, and the key thing, as i think you click there just alluded to is what kind of access what they have? what kind of access to crucial places here in the city of wuhan and beyond, and what kind of access to the research material that they have been gathering? we just do not know at this stage for the answers to those questions are, but they are going to be crucial to the ability of these investigators to try and work out how it started, where it jumped from the bats work out how it started, where it jumped from the hats to possibly other animals and than humans, because that is what is at the heart of what is this problem. and because that is what is at the heart of what is this problem.— of what is this problem. and their arrival coincides _ of what is this problem. and their arrival coincides with _ of what is this problem. and their arrival coincides with the - of what is this problem. and their arrival coincides with the first - arrival coincides with the first death reported in china for quite some time. death reported in china for quite some time-— death reported in china for quite some time. , . ., , ., some time. yes, the authorities hero deahni some time. yes, the authorities hero dealing with — some time. yes, the authorities hero dealing with resurgence _ some time. yes, the authorities hero dealing with resurgence in _ some time. yes, the authorities hero dealing with resurgence in covert - dealing with resurgence in covert cases. there are several hundred now

in the province of hebei. wuhan is safe, it's normal, but that surrounds the area of beijing. it's the first death in eight months, which gives you an idea of a successful china has been in terms of containing the virus here, but now there are in excess of 20 million people in various levels of restriction in different areas of china to try and contain and limit the potential for china to try and contain and limit the potentialfor a china to try and contain and limit the potential for a second outbreak here. donald trump has become the first us president to be impeached twice. he's been charged with "incitement of insurrection" over last week's assault on congress by his supporters. our us correspondent barbara plett usher has the story. the resolution is adopted without objection. the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. so ended a week like no other in washington, with the astonishing collapse of donald trump's final days in office. lawmakers return to

a capitol transformed. thousands of national guard troops deployed to protect them from the loyal supporters of the departing president who had stormed congress. the people's house looked like a war zone. the debate to impeach the president for inciting the violence was sharp and emotional. the president must be impeached, and i believe the president must be convicted by the senate — a constitutional remedy that will ensure the republic will be safe from this man who is so resolutely determined to tear down the things that we hold dear and that hold us together. it's not just about impeachment any more, it's about cancelling, as i've said, cancelling the president and anyone that disagrees with them. but most republicans didn't defend mr trump. instead, they questioned the process and warned it would deepen divisions. and ten voted for impeachment — a stark difference from the first time around a year ago. next, this goes to the senate for trial, but only after the inauguration ofjoe biden,

when mr trump will have left office. but i cannot emphasise that there must be no violence... in a video message, he still did not concede the election, but with the threat of more attacks to come, he called for protesters to remain peaceful. if you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement. you are attacking it. and you are attacking our country. usa! it's been one week since the riot, and there's one week to go before joe biden is inaugurated. in the middle of this, the house says it has acted to protect democracy by impeaching mr trump. but a peaceful transfer of power still feels very fragile. barbara plett usher, bbc news, washington. let's speak now to professor scott lucas, professor emeritus, university of birmingham(0s university of birmingham. tell us what you have observed about the shifts within the republican

party that have got us to this point. party that have got us to this oint. , party that have got us to this oint. . .. party that have got us to this oint. , ., .. party that have got us to this oint. , ., ., . , point. there is no longer a single republican _ point. there is no longer a single republican party- _ point. there is no longer a single republican party. one _ point. there is no longer a single republican party. one of- point. there is no longer a single republican party. one of these i point. there is no longer a single l republican party. one of these two major parties in the united states, but it is now fractured. we have one faction the place by the rules, they acknowledge the courts, they acknowledge the courts, they acknowledge the courts, they acknowledge the congressional decisions have to be respected, they acknowledge that the media is there to maintain checksum power, but you have another faction of the republican party, the trappist, that do not. they don't recognise congressional authority, and they don't recognise the media. you have seen this in the last 48 hours, you have seen in the house, that although ten republicans, including liz cheney, voted to impeach trump, but many did not. only a week ago,

after the violence, they refused to elect a president elected by the. you have the top republican in the senate, because he wanted very much wants to curb the trumpist faction, says that what donald trump has done is impeachable offences, and that he might vote to impeach. the is impeachable offences, and that he might vote to impeach.— might vote to impeach. the purpose ofthe might vote to impeach. the purpose of the trial. — might vote to impeach. the purpose of the trial, when _ might vote to impeach. the purpose of the trial, when he _ might vote to impeach. the purpose of the trial, when he is _ might vote to impeach. the purpose of the trial, when he is no _ might vote to impeach. the purpose of the trial, when he is no longer- of the trial, when he is no longer in office, explain why they would continue with this process. i in office, explain why they would continue with this process. i think it serves three _ continue with this process. i think it serves three immediate - continue with this process. i think. it serves three immediate purposes, and there is a longer term issue. it is a very important symbol. let us be clear, this is the first time that american citizens had attacked their own capital in the history of their own capital in the history of the united states, and the charges they didn't do itjust spontaneously, but they were encouraged and incited to do it. do not take action against donald trump is to let that slide. secondly, i

think it's a signal to us agencies, including the military, to try and keep an eye on trump. we saw nancy pelosi talking to the us chief commander, saying, don't let trump start a war before he leaves office. i think it's a reach out by democrats to republicans amidst this divided republican party, saying we have got to find what is acceptable and unacceptable in american politics, and between those three reasons, a child could be significant. if he is convicted it would deprive him of more than $200,000 a year and a pension, and if the senate follow this up with a majority vote, he would be banned from running for president in 2004, which, by the way, he really wants to do. he which, by the way, he really wants to do. ., , which, by the way, he really wants to do. . , ., . , which, by the way, he really wants to do. ., ., ., . to do. he has, though, released a video. president _ to do. he has, though, released a video. president trump _ to do. he has, though, released a video. president trump trying - to do. he has, though, released a video. president trump trying to l video. president trump trying to calm things down, saying to

supporters, be peaceful. how likely is that to fend off any reaction within the republican party against him? , ~ within the republican party against him? , . ., , within the republican party against him? ,. him? first, white house sources were iuick to him? first, white house sources were quick to leak— him? first, white house sources were quick to leak that _ him? first, white house sources were quick to leak that donald _ him? first, white house sources were quick to leak that donald trump - him? first, white house sources were quick to leak that donald trump was l quick to leak that donald trump was pressed into releasing that video by his own staff. they said that if he did not he might face legal action over the capital attack. only last week, when donald trump released a video after the attack, calling it heinous, we have to see what happens. i think the lead voice will not be donald trump us market will be mitch mcconnell�*s, trying to restore faith in the coming as republican party.— restore faith in the coming as republican party. restore faith in the coming as reublican -a . .. . republican party. good to have your insiihts, republican party. good to have your insights. thank— republican party. good to have your insights, thank you _ republican party. good to have your insights, thank you very _ republican party. good to have your insights, thank you very much. - some more breaking news around

coronavirus. aston villa's home match against everton on sunday has been postponed because of a covid—19 outbreak at the midlands club. this is coming from the premier league. aston villa's entire first—team squad and support staff have been in isolation since last week after 14 positive cases were reported at the club. they were due to face tottenham on wednesday but that fixture was also pushed back until later in the season, with fulham stepping in to fill the gap in the fixture list. premier league football being quite significantly affected by covid—19. travel from brazil to the uk could be banned in response to the discovery of a new coronavirus variant. ministers are meeting to discuss possible measures and a block on flights could also be extended to other south american countries in a bid to stop its spread. our political correspondent, damian grammaticas, joins me now. i don't think they have quite started the meeting yet, but what is

on the agenda? it is started the meeting yet, but what is on the agenda?— on the agenda? it is happening this lunchtime, on the agenda? it is happening this lunchtime. so _ on the agenda? it is happening this lunchtime, so we _ on the agenda? it is happening this lunchtime, so we are _ on the agenda? it is happening this lunchtime, so we are waiting - on the agenda? it is happening this lunchtime, so we are waiting to - lunchtime, so we are waiting to hear, and the question there which this meeting is being chaired by michael gove, is whether the uk should bring in this ban on flights from brazil, and also from other south american countries, because of this new variant. absolutely likely from this that this ban will be put in place, and it could be extended to quite a number of south american countries, so we are waiting to hear. the real concern is for this new variant, and the efforts to try and prevent that being imported. thank you. sport now, and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good morning. we start with andy murray's participation at the upcoming australian open, which is in doubt after the former world number one tested positive for coronavirus. he was due to leave in the next two days but will remain

at home to self—isolate. he'll have to test negative before departing and then complete a 14—day quarantine period upon arrival. murray is said to be in good health and remains hopeful he'll be able to travel in time to do so, with the tournament beginning in around three—and—a—half weeks' time. england's test team have been back in action this morning, on what has been a good day for their bowlers in the first test against sri lanka, dom bess and stuart broad in particular. bess took five wickets, including the last four forjust nine runs, as broad took three, with england's leading wicket—taker james anderson rested. sri lanka were bowled out for 135. england's reply didn't start well though — both openers were out cheaply, but things have improved since. they're103—2. joe root made a half—century. you can listen to what remains of the opening day on 5live sports extra. meanwhile, bowler tash farrant has

been recalled to the england women's squad, for the first time in two years, for the tour to new zealand. farrant is included after injuries to anya shrubsole and katie george. england will play three twenty20 games and three one—day internationals, starting on 23rd february in christchurch. aston villa have been forced to postpone another premier league match due to the pandemic. they closed their training ground last week after a number of positive tests. wednesday's game against tottenham had already been postponed. sunday's match at home to everton has now been called off. government ministerjulian knight has suggested the staging of this year's postponed european championships across 12 different countries might not be possible. having been pushed back a year, the tournament kicks of in rome onjune11th. knight, in his role as chair of the digital, culture, media and sport committee, has questioned the wisdom of continuing with the current format. glasgow, dublin, st petersburg and baku are also set to stage matches. uefa were reported to be considering a single—host format.

knight also described as "brainless" the scenes of players celebrating, in direct contravention of covid—19 protocols. the premier league is to meet club managers and captains to discuss the lack of adherence to the rules. there was little evidence of compliance when manchester city beat brighton 1—0 — phil foden with the goal — to move up to third place in the table, and manager pep guardiola said he didn't know if he could keep his players in line. the moment you score a goal, one guy runs and the other doesn't go to celebrate with him, it's weird, it is uncomfortable, i don't know what is going to happen. we play football games because we are tested in the last, i don't know, ten days, tested five or six times. every two days we have tests, so everyone is negative. so, it's outdoor, so it's not... so, like, the virus is less aggressive. i don't know, we are going to follow what the premier league says but i don't know if we will be able

to do it. england captain harry kane said players must abide by the rules. when he put tottenham ahead against fulham, he led by example — celebrations restricted to fist bumps and high fives. but when fulham's hard work paid off, and ivan cavaleiro scored a late equaliser, there was less restraint. and never write him off — ronnie o'sullivan, who was on the brink of going out of the masters snooker in the first round, but produced a remarkable comeback. he was 5—3 down to ding junhui, but he recovered to win 6—5 to reach the quarter—finals, where he'llfacejohn higgins. he had experience to draw on — o'sullivan has won this tournament seven times. coverage continues from 1pm across the bbc. that's all the sport for now but there's more on the bbc sport website, including text commenary on the cricket. i'll be back with more later.

the government says post—brexit customs delays that have prevented scottish fishermen exporting goods to european markets are "only teething problems". the food and environment minister told the commons a short while ago that the government is working to resolve the issues and has held meetings with dutch, french and irish officals. european importers have rejected truckloads of scottish fish since the uk exited the european union, after the need for health checks, export declarations and checks meant they had taken too long to arrive. yesterday, the prime minister claimed those affected would be eligible for compensation. elspeth macdonald is chief executive of the scottish fishermen's federation. shejoins me now from banchory in aberdeenshire. thank you forjoining us. tell us some of the problem is your members are having. some of the problem is your members are havini. ... .. some of the problem is your members are havini. .. , are having. good morning. yes, i think it's fair— are having. good morning. yes, i

think it's fair to _ are having. good morning. yes, i think it's fair to say _ are having. good morning. yes, i think it's fair to say that - are having. good morning. yes, i think it's fair to say that the - think it's fair to say that the problems being experienced by the fishing and seafood sector at the moment are widespread and varied. taking place right from the consignments being gathered together in scotland before onward transit down to the border and across into the eu, and also some problems at the eu, and also some problems at the border and problems throughout the border and problems throughout the paperwork chain, and the new bureaucracy and administration that is associated with exporting. so i think there is one point in the chain where problems are happening. they are happening at various places, and these are having a really serious impact on the sector, and we need government to work to resolve these as a matter of urgency. resolve these as a matter of urgency-— resolve these as a matter of “hen . ., . , ., ., ., resolve these as a matter of urien . .. ,. ., ., urgency. catches are going to waste. can ou urgency. catches are going to waste. can you put — urgency. catches are going to waste. can you put a — urgency. catches are going to waste. can you put a figure _ urgency. catches are going to waste. can you put a figure on _ urgency. catches are going to waste. can you put a figure on the _ urgency. catches are going to waste. can you put a figure on the amount l can you put a figure on the amount of money this is costing the sector? i don't know what the overall scale of that looks like at the moment,

but i know we have had some processors in the north—east who have incurred 6—figure losses. we have incurred 6—figure losses. we have vessels in our fleet, even some small vessels, losing tens of thousands of pounds over the last two weeks. the situation is such that we know that some of the larger whitefish vessels that are able to are going to steam to denmark and land are going to steam to denmark and [and their catch there because some of the prices on the market in scotland have been reduced up to 60% in some cases, and that is simply not sustainable for the industry. the government says these are teething problems. how more profound a problem is it, in your view, given that the brexit deal for many, in fishing, was not they felt they were promised? the fishing, was not they felt they were romised? . . , fishing, was not they felt they were romised? . ., , promised? the deal was disappointing for the industry. _ promised? the deal was disappointing for the industry. the _ promised? the deal was disappointing for the industry. the government - promised? the deal was disappointing for the industry. the government had | for the industry. the government had promised industry a much greater income, a greater share of the fish income, a greater share of the fish in our waters, control of access, and deal delivered just before christmas falls very far short of

promises that were made. potential perhaps down the road for the situation to look better at the end of the five and a half year adjustment period, but that comes with its own set of penalties that the eu could impose on the uk, if the eu could impose on the uk, if the uk wanted to change the arrangement at that point. i was pleased to hear george eustice say in the chamber this morning that the uk will change the arrangements in five and a half years. that was encouraging, but there is no guarantee that he and his colleagues will be in power at that point, so we will start working with the current administration and future ones, in terms of meeting that commitment that we really must have a better settlement, the deal delivered in december lives is essentially without hands tied behind our backs essentially without hands tied behind our hacks for the five and half years. behind our backs for the five and half years-— behind our backs for the five and half ears. ., . , half years. the government has said that iuotas half years. the government has said that quotas could _ half years. the government has said that quotas could be _ half years. the government has said that quotas could be increased - half years. the government has said that quotas could be increased in . that quotas could be increased in the future via annual talks, if the

is happy to do that, but briefly what help do you need now to unplug the problems in the supply chain? irate the problems in the supply chain? , need the uk and scottish governments to work closely with industry, we know they are. there is regular contact and dialogue, there have been urgent meetings this week, but that needs to turn into urgent action, and i would commend the officials who have been doing their best to resolve these issues, but the problem with this product is it can't wait. it's highly perishable and valuable. we can't take a week or two to sort this out. it has to be sorted out in days, and i think the complexity what the industry is faced with, in terms of the paperwork, the customs customs paperwork, the customs customs paperwork in particular is challenging for the industry, businesses need to help get this right, because otherwise these losses will be incurred and the industries cannot sustain them. thank you very much.

taking a holiday might not be possible at the moment, but tour operators say more of us are booking for the summer as confidence in the vaccine grows. national express say they've had 185% growth in the last two weeks and tui say bookings have jumped by 50% in the same period. our business reporter, simon browning, has more. holidays. millions of us missed out last year. no sea, no sun, no long sunset drinks. instead we got cancellations and refunds. now as the mass roll—out of the vaccine gets under way, tour operators say we're booking again and looking for sunnier climes. we launched our spring/summer brochure this weekend gone, and on monday we took a week's worth of bookings in a day. jit runs holidays and tours for national express coach businesses. booking have surged by 185% in the 65—plus market, compared with

the same period last year. many of them have had their first jab and they know within 12 weeks they will receive their second jab. that gives a level of certainty, certainty that they can enjoy and look forward to their 2021 holiday. it is giving them something to look forward to because when you book a holiday, there is the lead—up time, excitement and anticipation. with so many others stuck at home for months on end, 2020 meant lots of us have not been further than the kitchen. maybe you were lucky enough to have a few trips to the garden. maybe you have had a few trips to the shops. people wanting to start travelling again is great news for an industry that has had a terrible ten months. tui is the uk's biggest tour operator. greece, turkey and spain are our favourites. at the moment, everything is suspended.

in the last few weeks, over 50% of our bookings on our website have been the over—50s. the tui uk boss says they're seeing the same trend. we are seeing people booking longer holidays. rather than the straight seven nights, they're booking tens, elevens and 14s. maybe trying to catch a bit of that missed holiday backup. we are seeing them go into more multi—generational and broader groups. it is a bit more of a biggerfamily holiday that is coming through. whilst we all dream, it has been a tough year for the industry. abta estimates 90,000 jobs have been lost. this is utterly fantastic news, hugely welcomed by an industry that has been entirely devastated by this pandemic. ten months into this crisis and the travel industry has still received zero dedicated financial support from the government. this is the first sign of the light at the end of the tunnel for the sector. who isn't going to want a holiday after the annus horribilis that was 2020? we'll all yearning for the sun when our days seem so long and dark.

but the vaccine is bringing hope and sunnier, brighter moments to come. simon browning, bbc news. denise bridges is the managing director of albatross travel, a company that specialises in package coach holidays to europe and within the uk. shejoins me now. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. what sort of uptake are you seeing? irate news. what sort of uptake are you seeini ? ~ ., . news. what sort of uptake are you seeini? ~ . , news. what sort of uptake are you seein. ? . ., , ,., ., ., seeing? we are seeing some of our clients, seeing? we are seeing some of our clients. not — seeing? we are seeing some of our clients, not all _ seeing? we are seeing some of our clients, not all of _ seeing? we are seeing some of our clients, not all of our _ seeing? we are seeing some of our clients, not all of our clients, - seeing? we are seeing some of our clients, not all of our clients, who l clients, not all of our clients, who are reporting that the vaccine confidence is coming through with their enquiries and with people booking for this summer, which is great news. it's been a truly hideous year. lots of people lost theirjobs, and there are companies out there still struggling, as we have ourselves.— out there still struggling, as we have ourselves. what in particular eo - le have ourselves. what in particular people looking — have ourselves. what in particular people looking for _ have ourselves. what in particular people looking for when _ have ourselves. what in particular people looking for when they -

have ourselves. what in particular people looking for when they are l people looking for when they are booking a holiday that will hopefully take place this year? for our sector. — hopefully take place this year? fr?" our sector, they are mainly looking for holidays in the uk, so the typical seaside destination, but also ireland, scotland, wales and popular counties like yorkshire, suffolk and norfolk, cornwall and devon. those are the popular destinations, depending where the operator is based. find destinations, depending where the operator is based.— operator is based. and a big proportion _ operator is based. and a big proportion of— operator is based. and a big proportion of single - operator is based. and a big proportion of single rooms | operator is based. and a big i proportion of single rooms are operator is based. and a big - proportion of single rooms are being booked. tell us about that. there alwa s booked. tell us about that. there always have _ booked. tell us about that. there always have been. _ booked. tell us about that. there always have been. a _ booked. tell us about that. there always have been. a lot - booked. tell us about that. there always have been. a lot of- booked. tell us about that. there always have been. a lot of the . booked. tell us about that. there i always have been. a lot of the over 70s live alone. they might have good friendship groups but they want to stay in a single room when they go on holiday, and a holiday by coach gives people the opportunity to create new friendships and give them companionship. sometimes they meet people that they will then book the same holiday going forward together, which is a lovely outcome from holidays by coach.— which is a lovely outcome from

holidays by coach. how encouraged are ou holidays by coach. how encouraged are you buy — holidays by coach. how encouraged are you buy what — holidays by coach. how encouraged are you buy what you _ holidays by coach. how encouraged are you buy what you are _ holidays by coach. how encouraged are you buy what you are seeing? l holidays by coach. how encouraged are you buy what you are seeing? i | are you buy what you are seeing? i think it's a bit of light at the end of the tunnel for top the dimmer switch has turned up a notch. there is still a lot of pain in this industry, and some people won't survive. it is wonderful that the vaccine is giving people confidence, and i hope talking about it will continue to give more confidence as we move forward through the vaccine programme, and give people the chance to get away later this year. what we know about coronavirus as it throws up all sorts of shocks from to time and people have booked holidays for last year and weren't allowed to go. what happens in future? can you give us an insight? if you book a holiday now and you can't go, what do you do? it obviously depends on the circumstances, there are a lot of clients out there who are offering insurance that gives the opportunity for people to book and they will get either the chance to book on another

holiday or they will get their money back, and i think that flexibility is something we have all got to do. if the foreign office says we can't travel overseas, we can't travel, and that sorts out the problem to a degree. i am and that sorts out the problem to a degree. iam hoping, with the vaccine programme being rolled out, that we won't have those hiccups to the same degree. it doesn't mean people won't get it, but it takes away the horrendous outcome of people ending up on ventilators in hospital. people ending up on ventilators in hosital. . .. people ending up on ventilators in hosital. . ., . hospital. nice to have something 0 timistic hospital. nice to have something optimistic to _ hospital. nice to have something optimistic to talk _ hospital. nice to have something optimistic to talk about. - hospital. nice to have something optimistic to talk about. thank i hospital. nice to have something i optimistic to talk about. thank you for talking to us.— let's get more on the news that some high—street pharmacies in england will start vaccinating people from priority groups on thursday, with 200 providing jabs in the next two weeks. our news correpsondent, graham satchell, sent this update from one of the pharmacies involved. we are in superdrug in guildford this morning, which is on the high street, so it feels like a step change in this vaccination roll—out.

we have seen vaccines being given hospitals and mass testing centres and this brings it much closer to where people live. only a handful today, six, buti where people live. only a handful today, six, but i hope is it will be expanded in coming weeks to several hundred, and then pharmacists really want to do as much as they can. we will have a quick chat with tony. he has literally —— she has literally just had herjob. how are you feeling? just had her 'ob. how are you feelin: ? . , just had her 'ob. how are you feelini? . , , , feeling? find. iwas apprehensive because i have _ feeling? find. iwas apprehensive because i have a _ feeling? find. iwas apprehensive because i have a lot _ feeling? find. iwas apprehensive because i have a lot of— feeling? find. iwas apprehensive because i have a lot of allergies l because i have a lot of allergies but it's not an issue.— because i have a lot of allergies but it's not an issue. important for ou to but it's not an issue. important for you to get — but it's not an issue. important for you to get the _ but it's not an issue. important for you to get the jab. _ but it's not an issue. important for you to get the jab. very _ but it's not an issue. important for you to get the jab. very much, - you to get the 'ab. very much, because i— you to get the 'ab. very much, because i mix — you to get the jab. very much, because i mix with _ you to get the jab. very much, because i mix with teenage - you to get the jab. very much, i because i mix with teenage boys, you to get the jab. very much, - because i mix with teenage boys, who are not the most reliable at protecting themselves. i am a foster carer. . ., , .. it's carer. vital for you then. it's incredible, _ carer. vital for you then. it's incredible, yes. _ carer. vital for you then. it's incredible, yes. this - carer. vital for you then. it's incredible, yes. this area . carer. vital for you then. it's incredible, yes. this area is| carer. vital for you then. it's i incredible, yes. this area is for --eole incredible, yes. this area is for people who — incredible, yes. this area is for people who have _ incredible, yes. this area is for people who have just - incredible, yes. this area is for people who have just had - incredible, yes. this area is for people who have just had the l incredible, yes. this area is for. people who have just had the jab, and they wait for ten or 15 minutes to make sure they are ok, and then

they are free to go, one of the people assessing them is christine. good morning. does it feel like an important day to you? absolutely. it feels very important. _ important day to you? absolutely. it feels very important. it _ important day to you? absolutely. it feels very important. it feels - important day to you? absolutely. it feels very important. it feels like - feels very important. it feels like pharmacists are finally getting to do something about this covid—19, and vaccinating is really important to us, as we normally do flu vaccinations, so it feels like something else we can do to help out. .. . . , something else we can do to help out. ., .. , , something else we can do to help out. ., , , out. for clarity, people can't 'ust walk in and fi out. for clarity, people can't 'ust walk in and get i out. for clarity, people can't 'ust walk in and get vaccinated, h out. for clarity, people can'tjust walk in and get vaccinated, can l walk in and get vaccinated, can they? walk in and get vaccinated, can the ? .. . walk in and get vaccinated, can the ? ., . ., . walk in and get vaccinated, can the ? ., . ., ,, , they? no, at the moment the nhs is sendini they? no, at the moment the nhs is sending out — they? no, at the moment the nhs is sending out letters _ they? no, at the moment the nhs is sending out letters to _ they? no, at the moment the nhs is sending out letters to patients - they? no, at the moment the nhs is sending out letters to patients who i sending out letters to patients who are eligible, once they received that letter, it details how they can boxing for a vaccination through the national booking service. iwhich national booking service. which vaccine are _ national booking service. which vaccine are you _ national booking service. which vaccine are you giving, - national booking service. which vaccine are you giving, and - national booking service. which vaccine are you giving, and how many are you hoping to do? we vaccine are you giving, and how many are you hoping to do?— are you hoping to do? we will be iiivin the are you hoping to do? we will be giving the astrazeneca _ are you hoping to do? we will be giving the astrazeneca vaccine i are you hoping to do? we will be i giving the astrazeneca vaccine and we are hoping to do 1000

vaccinations per week. if we are hoping to do 1000 vaccinations per week. if this rolls out to more _ vaccinations per week. if this rolls out to more and _ vaccinations per week. if this rolls out to more and more _ vaccinations per week. if this rolls| out to more and more pharmacies, vaccinations per week. if this rolls - out to more and more pharmacies, you can see how quickly that rolls out —— adds up, but that's the plan. we -- adds up, but that's the plan. we are the —— adds up, but that's the plan. , are the first pharmacy to stop doing it and then, after this, other pharmacies will be able to do it after they get everything in place. finally, if there are people watching who are still slightly worried about getting this vaccine, what would you say? it’s worried about getting this vaccine, what would you say?— what would you say? it's quite normal to _ what would you say? it's quite normal to feel _ what would you say? it's quite normal to feel a _ what would you say? it's quite normal to feel a bit _ what would you say? it's quite i normal to feel a bit apprehensive about something new, but there has been a lot of work that has gone into this new vaccine, so we as clinicians and pharmacists were very excited, and we tell people they should get it, because most of the time people getting the letters to get the vaccination are vulnerable due to age or any other illnesses they might have, so this will help protect against covid, reduce the

severity of symptoms if you get covid, reduce mortality and the pressure on the nhs.— covid, reduce mortality and the pressure on the nhs. thank you. where we _ pressure on the nhs. thank you. where we are — pressure on the nhs. thank you. where we are this _ pressure on the nhs. thank you. where we are this morning - pressure on the nhs. thank you. where we are this morning is - pressure on the nhs. thank you. where we are this morning is a i where we are this morning is a pretty big pharmacy, you can probably see, and at this stage it is only larger pharmacies that are doing the vaccinations, because they need the space to socially distance people while they are waiting and once they have had the jab, so i think it's unlikely we will see vaccinations in corner shop pharmacies, if you like, so it will be bigger ones, but pharmacies will play a key role in trying to hit the ambitious government target of vaccinating 15 million people by mid—february. california's coronavirus catastrophe is becoming a huge strain on the health care system with people waiting hours to be admitted and patients lining hospital hallways. worse may be yet to come because so many people travelled across the united states during the christmas period. west coast correspondent sophie long

has been finding out more. the pressure on los angeles health care system has reached new, dangerous and desperate levels. ambulance teams have been told not to take those unlikely to make it to hospital. and doctors must decide who should receive the shrinking supplies of oxygen. heartbreaking choices for medical workers and for the families of the hundreds dying here every day. nurse bernie duran is both — covid claimed his father leo's life just after christmas. the hardest thing was seeing my father on facetime. that was really difficult. you see it on the news all the time, but when it happens to you and you see a loved one that you can't help, you can't hold their hand, so that they know you are there for them. that was very, very difficult for me. the risk of contracting coronavirus here in los angeles has never been greater than it is now. one in five people tested

are testing positive. that is four times the number doing so just two months ago. public health officials are warning that it could get worse still, when hospitals are already overflowing. people have been ordered to stay at home to stop that from happening. but more than 66,000 people in los angeles don't have a home. their lives are already a constant battle for survival. now they must confront covid also. this new semi—permanent structure was built to give shelter to more than 100 women. instead, it has become a makeshift covid board. its intended occupants remain on the streets, wear facemasks and sanitiser, protection from the pandemic are luxuries that few can afford. this is the most terrific battle that we have ever been in in 130 years in our history. this is relentless and every move we make, it gets overcome by covid and we have to make a new move.

the national guard are now on the ground, here, learning how to protect themselves as they assist medical workers overwhelmed and exhausted by this sixfold surge in admissions. but why is it happening? why here and why now? we have been too indecisive. we have too many, what i call, implementation bottlenecks. we know what we need to do, but we can't get it out there. we're not creating solutions to very big problems and so i think that all of that, basically, a confluence of badness, i call it that is creating the surge that we are experiencing right now. disneyland and the la dodgers stadium have now been transformed into mass vaccination sites, in the hope of stopping the super surge. sophie long, bbc news, los angeles. now it's time for a look at the weather. a real mix of wintry weather out

there today, some rain, sleet and heavy snowfall. this was the picture earlier in county durham, several centimetres. we had an amber warning in force. yellow warning is in force throughout the day for that heavy snowfall, which is likely to cause some disruption to travel through today. also a lot of ice around. the milder air is holding on in the south and west, but we still have cold air in the north and east, which will dig a bit further south through the day. most noble to come across parts of central scotland, northern england down towards the peak district. mainly falling as rain in east anglia and the south—east, but we could see a little bit of winteriness working further south this afternoon. drier and milder weather holding on in the south—west, eight in belfast, ten in cardiff, but only about 2 degrees for newcastle and edinburgh. this afternoon and into the evening, most of the rain, sleet and snow will fizzle out and dissipate, so things

become largely dry tonight. still quite a lot of low cloud, mist and freezing fog patches developing overnight, as temperatures for many of us will be below freezing. some icy stretches first thing tomorrow, with some freezing fog patches stubborn and slow to clear. high pressure building from the south—west, so light winds, largely dry conditions through friday, but watch out for those lingering freezing fog patches through the day. most places should see brightness developing, a few sunny spells through the afternoon, but temperatures on the cold side for the time of year, between two and 7 degrees by friday afternoon. a quiet, largely dry but cold day on friday. forthe quiet, largely dry but cold day on friday. for the weekend, this weather front will bring rain and hill snow through saturday. it should clear away quite quickly as high pressure builds in through the second half of the weekend. mostly dry by sunday. up and down this weekend, blustery winds, spells of

rain and hill snow, which will be replaced by mostly sunny conditions on saturday and sunday. a mild, breezy and wet day on the cards for most of us on saturday. sunday looks colder but drier. bye—bye for now.

this is bbc news. the headlines: nearly four and a half million people were waiting to start hospital treatment in england at the end of november — the highest number since records began. the royal college of surgeons say the figures show the calamitous impact of covid—19. a hospital trust in birmingham temporarily suspends kidney transplants as nhs services struggle to cope with coronavirus. from this morning the covid—19 vaccine will be made available at some high street pharmacies in england. it comes as ministers discuss whether to stop flights from brazil coming to the uk amid concerns over a new variant of coronavirus there. international scientists arrive in wuhan in china to investigate the origins of covid—19. donald trump bcomes the first

president to be impeached twice. in a video released after the vote, mr trump called on his followers to remain peaceful. mob violence goes against everything i believe in and everything our movement stands for. no true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. and andy murray's participation at the australian open is in doubt after the former world number one tests positive for coronavirus. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. a record number of people are waiting to start routine hospital treatment. a total of 4.46 million people

were on the waiting list in england at the end of last november, the highest number since records began. the royal college of surgeons said the figures showed the calamitous impact of the virus. it comes as a hospitals trust in birmingham has temporarily suspended kidney transplants due to the critical covid—19 situation in the city. meanwhile the coronavirus vaccines will be available at a small number of high street pharmacies in england from this morning. it's part of a pilot project that should see hundreds more community pharmacies offering the jabs in the next two weeks. a study suggests most people who have had covid—19 are protected from becoming ill again for at least five months. but the research, by public health england, found those who've been infected could still carry and transmit the virus. and concerns are growing about a new variant of the disease which originated in brazil. ministers are meeting to discuss whether to stop flights from the country.

we'll have more on those stories in the next hour. six pharmacies in england that are big enough to allow for social distancing. stores run by boots, superdrug and independent pharmacists like this one in macclesfield will be the first to offer the vaccine today. but over the next fortnight, many more community pharmacies should join them. we're delighted that pharmacy teams, who have been on the health service front line throughout the pandemic, are joining this great national effort to defeat the virus. they are, as you know, in the community, and very convenient, so it's a really proud moment for community pharmacy and a moment of hope for all of us, really. the roll—out of the two coronavirus vaccines is accelerating. the jab will soon be available at around 2,700 sites across the uk. as well as hospitals, gp surgeries and the big vaccination hubs that came into operation on monday, around 200 community

pharmacies should come online in the next two weeks, with more to follow. you need to receive a letter inviting you to make an appointment for a jab. people are being asked not to turn up without an appointment, but high street pharmacists are experienced in regularly administering annual flu jabs, and they will be needed if the government is going to meet its target of vaccinating millions of the most vulnerable as well as health and care workers by mid—february. dominic hughes, bbc news. i'm joined now by our health correspondent, nick triggle. talk correspondent, nick triggle. to us more about the lists, talk to us more about the waiting lists, the highest since records began. lists, the highest since records bean. . ., lists, the highest since records bean. , . �* , lists, the highest since records bean. , . 2 ., lists, the highest since records bean. 2 ., , began. yes, and it's not 'ust routine operations. �* began. yes, and it's not 'ust routine operations. we h began. yes, and it's notjust routine operations. we are i began. yes, and it's notjust - routine operations. we are seeing disruption to cancer services, the way a nde�* work, and some hospitals it is one or two, and that has

pushed down other karen had a major impact on how these services are delivered. if we look at patients who have been admitted into hospital, the data published by nhs england shows that one in four are facing weights of several hours. they may be waiting in corridors a side rooms because beds are not available, because as we know hospitals are in huge pressure. the routine operations we have just been talking about our climbing the numbers from 4.46 million, the highest since records began, and many of these patients have been waiting for a year. in february, before the pandemic hit, it was a thousand times more people waiting

every year, so they are very long waits. we have been getting figures for critical care beds, no, as we know, hospitals have been having to open more critical care beds because of the rising numbers of covid patients being admitted. the numbers have risen by a quarter since early november, and this has meant lots of staff have had to be redeployed into these areas, taking them away from these areas, taking them away from the likes of routine care, cancer care and emergency and urgent care. let's talk about the vaccine roll—out, then, and what we're seeing in terms of variations the country. seeing in terms of variations the count . . seeing in terms of variations the count . , ., , , country. yes, today is the first time we have _ country. yes, today is the first time we have got _ country. yes, today is the first time we have got a _ country. yes, today is the first time we have got a regional i time we have got a regional breakdown of those figures. we know 2.3 million vaccinations have been given up to the 10th of january. now, one in ten of those have been given in london, and london's mayor sadiq khan has claimed that he does not think that the capital is getting its fair share of vaccines. if you look at london, it accounts

for about one sixth of england's population, but they are only getting about one tenth of the doses. nhs say they believe london is actually getting the right number of vaccines. london has a slightly younger population, and at the moment the vaccine programme is focused on older age groups, so that could be a factor in it. we also know the roll—out of the programme has at times been a bit of a stop start to it with some vaccination centres not always getting a smooth supply. this is improving day by day. that could also be playing a little bit of a row, by nhs england is insistent that all regions are getting the right vaccines for their population. getting the right vaccines for their --oulation. ., ~ getting the right vaccines for their --oulation. . ~ i. getting the right vaccines for their --oulation. ., ~' ,. , . joining me now is professor neil mortensen, president of the royal college of surgeons england. thank you very much forjoining us. i have read a quote from you saying

that today's figures show the calamitous impact of covid—19 on wait times for operations. expand on that for us, tell us what you and your colleagues are seeing. this that for us, tell us what you and your colleagues are seeing. as has been previously — your colleagues are seeing. as has been previously pointed _ your colleagues are seeing. as has been previously pointed out, - your colleagues are seeing. as has been previously pointed out, this i your colleagues are seeing. as has| been previously pointed out, this is nearly 4.5 million patients, highest number since 2007. that means lots and lots of patients with particularly problems like hip and knee, arthritis needing hip and knee replacements, are going to have to wait even longer. it's a huge, huge backlog of concern, which it is clearly not the time to be while the pandemic is that the surge, not the time for us to be making big plans about what to do about it, but i think in the medium term or have to come back. ifeel a bit like a broken record in these conversations, because every time

these figures come out, it is the same. it has grown bigger, there are more patients waiting, and although we think of these as numbers they are actually individual patients, they are notjust routine operations, their patients are in pain, losing their mobility, and it is a massive, massive problem which we will have to address. it is is a massive, massive problem which we will have to address.— we will have to address. it is not 'ust an we will have to address. it is not just an inconvenience, _ we will have to address. it is not just an inconvenience, from - we will have to address. it is not just an inconvenience, from a i just an inconvenience, from a lockdown, which a lot of people complain about, is in some cases it is life—threatening. ih complain about, is in some cases it is life-threatening.— is life-threatening. in some cases it is life-threatening, _ is life-threatening. in some cases it is life-threatening, but - is life-threatening. in some cases it is life-threatening, but since i it is life—threatening, but since the first stage we have been involved in making sure that those who really do need surgery to get it. if you have an urgent condition that needs urgent surgery then the nhs is still quite capable of looking after you and managing that situation. i think it's really, really important that although this sounds grim, the patients who have problems, who have symptoms, who have what they think might be a serious problem, that they still

call 111, that they still do attend and have the problem sorted out. i think what we saw during the first surge was that patients were frightened to come to hospital. i think that was during november, two, the numbers of patients in a kind of hidden waiting list, probably building up in addition to all of so, it's likely the figure is even bigger. so, it's likely the figure is even bi ier. .. . so, it's likely the figure is even bi ier. ., . so, it's likely the figure is even biner. ., . . bigger. you have said a huge hidden waitini list bigger. you have said a huge hidden waiting list is _ bigger. you have said a huge hidden waiting list is building _ bigger. you have said a huge hidden waiting list is building up _ bigger. you have said a huge hidden waiting list is building up under i waiting list is building up under lockdown, is that you mean, people not coming forward because they're worried? . , not coming forward because they're worried? , , . not coming forward because they're worried? . , . ., , , worried? yes, they have not yet been diainosed, worried? yes, they have not yet been diagnosed. they _ worried? yes, they have not yet been diagnosed, they have _ worried? yes, they have not yet been diagnosed, they have not _ worried? yes, they have not yet been diagnosed, they have not been i worried? yes, they have not yet been diagnosed, they have not been seen l diagnosed, they have not been seen in order to be put on the waiting list in the first place. haifa in order to be put on the waiting list in the first place.— list in the first place. how likely is it that we _ list in the first place. how likely is it that we are _ list in the first place. how likely is it that we are going _ list in the first place. how likely is it that we are going to i list in the first place. how likely is it that we are going to see i list in the first place. how likely i is it that we are going to see more hospital trusts take the same action that we are seeing in birmingham, where temporarily kidney transplants have been suspended? well. where temporarily kidney transplants have been suspended?— have been suspended? well, kidney translants have been suspended? well, kidney transplants and _ have been suspended? well, kidney transplants and other _ have been suspended? well, kidney transplants and other transplants i transplants and other transplants were suspended, of course, during

the first search of the virus. if there are no beds for anything else other than emergency patients coming through the door, then of course, kidney transplants have to be done in a safe environment, patients are immunosuppressed, if they get the virus they will obviously have worse outcomes, and the same is true of some of the discussions around cancer surgery, too. some of the discussions around cancersurgery, too. i some of the discussions around cancer surgery, too. i have to tell you that we have lots of brilliant colleagues around the nhs working every day in prioritisation groups and even the networks coming up with the best way to treat individual patients as soon as is possible. these are exceptional circumstances. nobody wants to see cancer surgery, for example, post, but in some circumstances difficult decisions have to be made, but much of this are still going onjust have to be made, but much of this are still going on just the same. how problematic is the impact on

staff, on those on whom we all rely, who are under immense strain, doctors, nurses, medicalsupport doctors, nurses, medical support staff, doctors, nurses, medicalsupport staff, underso doctors, nurses, medicalsupport staff, under so much pressure for so many months, and, as you are hearing from nhs providers today, staff absences are probably twice what they would normally be at the time of year. i they would normally be at the time of ear. ~ ., they would normally be at the time of ear. ~ . , , , of year. i think fatigue is probably the best way _ of year. i think fatigue is probably the best way of _ of year. i think fatigue is probably the best way of describing - of year. i think fatigue is probably the best way of describing it. i of year. i think fatigue is probably the best way of describing it. a i the best way of describing it. a kind of chronic long—term, if you like, tiredness with what is going on, but as it is relentless. i think that we won't properly, if you like, he that we won't properly, if you like, be able to see what the emotional toll of all of this is until the other side of it. obviously, in the heat at the moment, there is the adrenaline, there is exam it's of actually trying to manage a serious situation, but that wears off, and everybody needs rest and recuperation for their adrenaline levels to build up again. i think it

will be a huge problem going on from here. ., , will be a huge problem going on from here. . , ., will be a huge problem going on from here. . , . , ., here. finally, what is the way out of this? when _ here. finally, what is the way out of this? when the _ here. finally, what is the way out of this? when the time _ here. finally, what is the way out of this? when the time comes, i here. finally, what is the way out i of this? when the time comes, what is going to be needed to get on top of this waiting list? it is is going to be needed to get on top of this waiting list?— of this waiting list? it is going to have to be _ of this waiting list? it is going to have to be sustained _ of this waiting list? it is going to have to be sustained investment of this waiting list? it is going to i have to be sustained investment to treat all these people waiting patiently for their operation. there has to be some sort of national plan or new deal, as we have described it. ~ , .. or new deal, as we have described it. ~ , ., . ., or new deal, as we have described it. will you have enough staff to co e? it. will you have enough staff to cope? there _ it. will you have enough staff to cope? there will _ it. will you have enough staff to cope? there will be _ it. will you have enough staff to cope? there will be problems i it. will you have enough staff to l cope? there will be problems the ca aci in cope? there will be problems the capacity in terms _ cope? there will be problems the capacity in terms of— cope? there will be problems the capacity in terms of operations i capacity in terms of operations space, i have colleagues modelling the way in which we might be able to return some elective activity to normal, but it will be a massive, massive task, and it will need a national strategy. ifate massive task, and it will need a national strategy.— national strategy. we really appreciate _ national strategy. we really appreciate you _ national strategy. we really appreciate you talking i national strategy. we really appreciate you talking to i national strategy. we really appreciate you talking to us national strategy. we really i appreciate you talking to us today. thank you. a reminder that there is a

government meeting taking place today, one of the issues being discussed is whether flights from brazil to the uk should be suspended because of the new variant, that has emerged in that country. new research suggests that the majority of people who've had covid—19 are protected from getting it again for at least five months. the study by public health england says that despite this, those who've been infected already may still carry and transmit the virus. our science correspondent rebecca morelle has more. coronavirus is spreading fast, and the number of people who've already had covid is rising. this latest study looked at how likely they are to catch it again. 6,500 healthcare workers who'd been infected in the past were tracked and given regular tests. most were protected from the virus for at least five months. and they're now being monitored to see how long this immunity lasts.

but there were a few reinfections, with 44 potential cases detected, and some had high enough levels of the virus to put them at risk what we're saying here is, it is good, it's protecting people, but it's not 100% protective, and therefore, people still need to follow the rules until we know more about this, both on the durability of the response and also understand better why of these individuals have not responded or if it is particular to a certain group. so, the advice for now is to stay at home, remembering hands, face and space, whether you've had the virus or not. rebecca morelle, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news... nearly four and a half million people were waiting to start hospital treatment in england at the end of november — the highest number since records began. hospital trusts in birmingham temporarily suspend kidney transplants as nhs services struggle to cope with covid—19.

from this morning the coronavirus vaccine will be made available at some high street pharmacies in england. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. andy murray's participation at the upcoming australian open is in doubt after the former world number one tested positive for coronavirus. the tournament starts in three—and—a—half weeks. he's said to be in good health and was due to leave in the next two days, but he'll stay at home to self—isolate and there's a question mark over whether he'll be allowed to travel to melbourne outside of the chartered flights put on by the organisers. if he's given the go—ahead, he'll have to test negative before departing and then complete a 14—day quarantine period upon arrival. england's test team have been back in action this morning on what has been a good day for their bowlers in the first match of the series against sri lanka — dom bess and stuart broad in particular.

bess took five wickets — including the last four forjust nine runs — broad taking three, with england's leading wicket—taker james anderson rested. sri lanka were bowled out for 135 and, although england's reply didn't start well, both openers out cheaply, england finished the day on 127—2, captain joe root making a half—century, just eight runs behind. aston villa have been forced to postpone another premier league match due to the pandemic. they closed their training ground last week after a number of positive tests. wednesday's game against tottenham had already been postponed. sunday's match at home to everton has now been called off. government ministerjulian knight has suggested the staging of this year's postponed european championship across 12 different countries might not be possibe. having been pushed back a year, the tournament kicks off in rome onjune11th. knight, in his role as chair of the digital, culture,

media and sport committee, has questioned the wisdom of continuing with the current format. cities across europe, from london and glasgow, to st petersburg and baku, are set to stage matches, but uefa are reported to be considering a single—host format. and never write him off — ronnie o'sullivan was on the brink of going out of the masters snooker in the first round but produced a remarkable comeback. he was 5—3 down to ding junhui, but he recovered to win 6—5 to reach the quarter—finals, where he'llfacejohn higgins. coverage continues from 1pm across the bbc. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. the university hospitals birmingham nhs foundation trust says it has temporarily suspended kidney transplants due to the critical covid—19 situation in the city. in a tweet, uhb�*s renal transplantation team said: "due to the critical situation with covid—19 in our area,

we are temporarily suspending our waiting list patients for 14 days and pausing kidney transplantation in birmingham. dr thuva amuthan is a west midlands gp. thank you for your time. this must be very distressing for those people who were expecting to have a transplant. {lit who were expecting to have a transplant-— who were expecting to have a translant. . ~ . ,, . transplant. of course. a transplant is a big thing _ transplant. of course. a transplant is a big thing to — transplant. of course. a transplant is a big thing to go _ transplant. of course. a transplant is a big thing to go through - transplant. of course. a transplant is a big thing to go through in i transplant. of course. a transplant is a big thing to go through in the i is a big thing to go through in the first place, and you must be in quite a... in a waiting list for a at the time, and in the situation, as said before, it is a big operation to go through. there are lots of things to think about in terms of the patient outcome and having the right things in place after the operation, like. when we are struggling for beds for patients, it is a resource of patients, it is a resource of

patients, and it it's a tough choice to make, and i can't confirm how they are doing this, but it is a tough decision that he made me have tough decision that he made me have to be mindful and think about how much the hospital is under to consider such a thing.- much the hospital is under to consider such a thing. yes, of course, there _ consider such a thing. yes, of course, there would - consider such a thing. yes, of course, there would never- consider such a thing. yes, of. course, there would never take consider such a thing. yes, of i course, there would never take a consideration like this likely. what is the advice you can give to patients and the kind of support you can offer those who have been affected by this? i can offer those who have been affected by this?— can offer those who have been affected by this? i guess the advice is to make sure _ affected by this? i guess the advice is to make sure you _ affected by this? i guess the advice is to make sure you follow - affected by this? i guess the advice is to make sure you follow the i is to make sure you follow the guidelines, stay at home, make sure washing your hands and covering your face, stay two metres away and socially distance from people wherever possible and minimise your contacts. you are not only protecting yourself by doing all of this, but you have protecting everybody else, because everything you do, if you are infected, you have a knock—on effect to someone else, and the ra, for example, in terms of transmission elsewhere, so every person in the country has a role to play and we must do all we

can to make sure that we are minimising the possible risk of catching the virus and transmitting it. ~ . catching the virus and transmitting it. . ., , catching the virus and transmitting it. . . , , . catching the virus and transmitting it. what is the wider picture look like a cross _ it. what is the wider picture look like a cross birmingham, - it. what is the wider picture look like a cross birmingham, then? i it. what is the wider picture look| like a cross birmingham, then? if this hospitals trust this thing fit to suspend kidney transplants, how does that fit into the bigger picture? ii does that fit into the bigger icture? .. .. ~' does that fit into the bigger icture? ., ., ~ . , , picture? if we look at the numbers, we know that _ picture? if we look at the numbers, we know that across _ picture? if we look at the numbers, we know that across the _ picture? if we look at the numbers, we know that across the midlands i picture? if we look at the numbers, i we know that across the midlands are about five and a half thousand patients who are in chile because of covid, and we have about 3500 on ventilators. you have to remember, it is notjust the ventilators that are required, but all the staff around it, if they are isolated because of covid, we have to put this all together and we are stressed. all hospitals across the nation are at once capacity, and we

are stretched to the brim. tau nation are at once capacity, and we are stretched to the brim. you have the pfizer vaccine, _ are stretched to the brim. you have the pfizer vaccine, i— are stretched to the brim. you have the pfizer vaccine, i believe, i the pfizer vaccine, i believe, available in your surgery to get to your patients. how is the roll—out going? which category of people they argue addressing first? just going? which category of people they argue addressing first?— argue addressing first? just on the outside of the _ argue addressing first? just on the outside of the store, _ argue addressing first? just on the outside of the store, all— argue addressing first? just on the outside of the store, all my i outside of the store, all my colleagues are working flat out and getting all the local population vaccinated across, within our primary care network, to catch as many patients as possible. we are working through the joint committee recommendations in terms of categories, making sure the patients in care homes coverage, vaccinating the elderly and health professionals. how kina people to take this up?— take this up? there is a mixed imaie, take this up? there is a mixed image. but — take this up? there is a mixed image, but everyone - take this up? there is a mixed image, but everyone has i take this up? there is a mixed i image, but everyone has understood that there is a need to protect ourselves. we need to make sure that everyone understands that the other side effects and things, we have

been vaccinating quite a lot of people now, so far nearly 2.5 million people have received the vaccine, so we know it's effective, and everyone is opening up to the idea, and i think especially from health care staff's point of view, being on the front line, having the vaccine has helped tremendously in getting the general population to take up the vaccine, so we're a pretty good job and it is one of the first few steps in keeping a cut population, then we are doing a good job so far, but still enough a lot of work to go. job so far, but still enough a lot of work to go— of work to go. finally, how concerned _ of work to go. finally, how concerned are _ of work to go. finally, how concerned are people i of work to go. finally, how concerned are people thatl of work to go. finally, how i concerned are people that the of work to go. finally, how - concerned are people that the gap between the first dose in the second dose was extended to three months? that's right, again, i think we have to think about what a difficult situation we are in. we are in a situation we are in. we are in a situation we are in. we are in a situation we have to make those tough calls, and the chief medical officer only made that call because we have got data suggest that immunity lasts that long, and we

wanted to get as many people covered with the first vaccine as possible so that we can ensure that we have uncovered. we need to ensure the whole population. it is a tough call, but i think it is the right call. . ~ call, but i think it is the right call. ., ~ , ., very much for talking to us. the hotel chain premier inn has confirmed it has axed 1500 jobs as a direct result of the pandemic. the company launched a consultation process back in september placing up to 6,000 jobs at risk. 1,500 people were then made redundant towards the end of 2020. the business said thatjobs were saved by workers accepting reduced working hours. donald trump has become the first us president to be impeached twice. he's been charged with "incitement of insurrection" over last week's assault on congress by his supporters. our us correspondent barbara plett usher has the story.

the resolution is adopted without objection. the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. so ended a week like no other in washington, with the astonishing collapse of donald trump's final days in office. lawmakers return to a capitol transformed. thousands of national guard troops deployed to protect them from the loyal supporters of the departing president who had stormed congress. the people's house looked like a war zone. the debate to impeach the president for inciting the violence was sharp and emotional. the president must be impeached, and i believe the president must be convicted by the senate — a constitutional remedy that will ensure the republic will be safe from this man who is so resolutely determined to tear down the things that we hold dear and that hold us together. it's not just about impeachment any more, it's about cancelling, as i've said, cancelling the president and anyone that disagrees with them. but most republicans didn't defend mr trump. instead, they questioned

the process and warned it would deepen divisions. and ten voted for impeachment — a stark difference from the first time around a year ago. next, this goes to the senate for trial, but only after the inauguration ofjoe biden, when mr trump will have left office. but i cannot emphasise that there must be no violence... in a video message, he still did not concede the election, but with the threat of more attacks to come, he called for protesters to remain peaceful. if you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement. you are attacking it. and you are attacking our country. usa! it's been one week since the riot, and there's one week to go before joe biden is inaugurated. in the middle of this, the house says it has acted to protect democracy by impeaching mr trump. but a peaceful transfer of power still feels very fragile. barbara plett usher, bbc news, washington. let's speak to our

correspondent gary o'donoghue. what is going on inside the republican party to get us to this point? republican party to get us to this oint? ~ , , u, republican party to get us to this oint?~ , , , republican party to get us to this oint? , , , , point? well, the republican party is sort of tearing _ point? well, the republican party is sort of tearing itself _ point? well, the republican party is sort of tearing itself apart _ sort of tearing itself apart slightly in public, that is certainly the case, there is very much to camp starting to form, those that clearly want to move on from donald trump and donald trumpism, and those that are wedded to the man and those that are wedded to the man and everything he does, and those two things, it is very hard for them to coincide within the same party without some of that tension showing very publicly. i think we saw that last night in the vote, with ten republicans going along with their democratic colleagues. it is a small number, small percentage of republicans in congress, but significant all the same, and the

issue with the senate is will they be able to persuade i7 issue with the senate is will they be able to persuade 17 republicans to vote with them? how be able to persuade 17 republicans to vote with them?— to vote with them? how far do you think president _ to vote with them? how far do you think president trump _ to vote with them? how far do you think president trump managed i to vote with them? how far do you think president trump managed to to vote with them? how far do you i think president trump managed to go on dissuading his own party to sort of vote to convict him with the video that he released last night? well, i think a lot of the words are in the right place, that's certainly true. he told people not to be violent, he told them that any violence was not in support of him, was not in his name. of course, that is in stark contrast to much of the rhetoric that he has employed before and after the election. it is in contrast to the rhetoric he employed at the rally last wednesday before the attack on congress, when he said, we have to fight, we cannot be weak if we want to take back our country. it is a contrast to that,

it is in contrast to his description of people attacking the capital and saying we love you about them, —— attacking capitol, so you take, whatever the phrases, whichever phrase donald trump is speaking. what he did not say last night is that he lost the election, so i think a lot of his supporters through the country will hear that, or the lack of that, and say, if he doesn't think he lost the election, why should we?— doesn't think he lost the election, wh shouldwe? ., ., , ., ., why should we? what does that mean in terms of the _ why should we? what does that mean in terms of the atmosphere _ why should we? what does that mean in terms of the atmosphere in - why should we? what does that mean in terms of the atmosphere in terms i in terms of the atmosphere in terms of the approach has been taken security wise up to the inauguration ofjoe biden? security wise up to the inauguration of joe biden?— of joe biden? there is a lot of focus on _ of joe biden? there is a lot of focus on security, _ ofjoe biden? there is a lot of| focus on security, washington, ofjoe biden? there is a lot of- focus on security, washington, dc will have 10,000 national guard on the streets of the nation's capital for outweighing this troupe�*s that america has in iraq and afghanistan at the moment. on the streets here in washington, dc, and the fbi and others are following in monitoring the online chatter, which,

apparently there is an awful lot of, about potential protest, notjust in dc but around the country, as well. everybody is very anxious about the next few days. for everybody is very anxious about the next few days-— everybody is very anxious about the next few da s. ., ., ., ~ next few days. for the moment, thank ou very much. now it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear. snow to the north and heavy rain further south, you can see whether snow has been sitting through the spine of scotland and through the north of england. heavy rain still yet to clear to the east of the pennines, as well, down into the south—east corner. it's leaving a legacy of calderon for the rest of the afternoon, perhaps the best of the afternoon, perhaps the best of the brightness into northern ireland, but still a nagging northerly wind here. temperatures will be subdued generally across the country, just a couple of degrees above freezing worth the crowd lingers across the southwest. over tonight, the rain and snow will ease away, then we could have a problem with some ice and freezing fog

forming as temperatures forjust around or below freezing in many places. widespread frost or fog first thing in the morning, those icy stretches clearing away before heavy rain on saturday. hello. this is bbc news. the headlines... nearly four and a half million people were waiting to start hospital treatment in england at the end of november — the highest number since records began. the royal college of surgeons say the figures show the "calamitous" impact of covid—i9. a hospital trust in birmingham temporarily suspends kidney transplants, as nhs services struggle to cope with coronavirus. from this morning, the covid—i9 vaccine will be made available at some high—street pharmacies in england. it comes as ministers discuss whether to stop flights from brazil coming to the uk, amid concerns over a new variant of coronavirus there.

international scientists arrive in wuhan in china to investigate the origins of covid—i9. and donald trump becomes the first president in us history to be impeached twice. more now on the pressures facing the nhs and the huge impact covid is having on the treatment of other illnesses. the latest nhs england figures show a further rise in the number of people waiting to start routine hospital treatment. a total of 4.46 million people were waiting to start hospital treatment in england at the end of november 2020, the highest number since records began. earlier, i spoke to saffron cordery, deputy chief executive of nhs providers. she described the pressure hospitals and nhs staff are under. this reflects the incredibly challenging situation the nhs finds itself in. it's something we have

been talking about for a very long time. this what we were worried about at the beginning of the pandemic, which was we can get through the first wave that we knew that a second wave coinciding with winter would be incredibly challenging, and that's what we are seeing stop i think particularly difficult is that nearly 200,000 long waiters, people waiting over a yearfor long waiters, people waiting over a year for elective care, routine care. we know that within that group there will be many people whose conditions worsen, and that's obviously not a good place for patients and not a good place for staff either. people go into the nhs because they want to work in a caring profession and help people and, when they are in a situation where they can't, that's incredibly frustrating. one of the figures we also need to think about, because it contributes hugely to the pressure at the nhs is under, is the staff absence rates that have been

highlighted today. 100,000 staff absences were reported on the 6th of january, 50% of those were due to covid, either illness or isolation. that indicates the huge pressure that covid is putting on starting, and meeting that high demand due to covid is incredibly challenging. what would the absence rate normally be? ., , , ., ., what would the absence rate normally be? , ., ., ., ., what would the absence rate normally be? probably around half that, so i think that's — be? probably around half that, so i think that's an _ be? probably around half that, so i think that's an absence _ be? probably around half that, so i think that's an absence rate - be? probably around half that, so i think that's an absence rate of- think that's an absence rate of around, i don't have precise figures, but around 10%, and we would usually see at this time of year and absence rate of between percent and 6%, so we are seeing a much higher absence rate, and that causes huge challenges, because it's notjust causes huge challenges, because it's not just absence rates that affect full—time nhs staff, it also affects those who work as temporary staff,

locums, in banks as well. it's not just about finding replacements but replacements for the replacements, if you get my drift, and that's incredibly challenging.- if you get my drift, and that's incredibly challenging. when we look at the waiting — incredibly challenging. when we look at the waiting list _ incredibly challenging. when we look at the waiting list figures, _ incredibly challenging. when we look at the waiting list figures, these - at the waiting list figures, these are from november, how likely is it that, when we get more up—to—date figures, they will be even higher, and of course there are people who haven't even started the process of diagnosis yet. we don't know about them. ~ , ,., , ~' diagnosis yet. we don't know about them. , , ~ , them. absolutely. i think we sadly can exneet — them. absolutely. i think we sadly can expect these _ them. absolutely. i think we sadly can expect these figures _ them. absolutely. i think we sadly can expect these figures to - them. absolutely. i think we sadlyl can expect these figures to worsen. we know that a number of trusts have been trying to keep going with their routine care for as long as possible, so some trusts will have only decided to cancel over the christmas period rather than before in november, which these figures reflect, so that logic says we will expect the figures probably to worsen over the coming months. we

have to hope that, once we come down from the peak of this pandemic, we will be able to see the nhs start to recover, but that's going to be a long, slowjourney, because we are talking about not only making up a backlog but also helping staff focus on the additional inputs that they will need to make, and focus on recovering staff position as well as patient position. it's really, really challenging at the moment stop really challenging at the moment sto ; ., really challenging at the moment sto_ ., ., . really challenging at the moment sto_ ., ., i” . really challenging at the moment sto_ ., ., . �*, really challenging at the moment stop how do you catch up? it's cold comfort to — stop how do you catch up? it's cold comfort to those _ stop how do you catch up? it's cold comfort to those people _ stop how do you catch up? it's cold comfort to those people who - stop how do you catch up? it's cold l comfort to those people who haven't potentially had life—saving treatment during this period. what do you need to be able to catch up and get on top of those waiting lists as fast as possible? i agree that it's cold _ lists as fast as possible? i agree that it's cold comfort, _ lists as fast as possible? i agree that it's cold comfort, and - lists as fast as possible? i agree that it's cold comfort, and no i lists as fast as possible? i agree | that it's cold comfort, and no one is suggesting that we take this lightly. we really don't. what we have to do is be realistic about the

place of catch up and the pace of recovery, once we are down from the peak of the pandemic. i think it will be a very big focus them on recovering elective care, which will be about using all of the capacity we have available, whether that is in the nhs or whether that is in the independent sector, and i know there are ongoing conversations between the nhs and private hospitals about how they are supporting and making a welcome contribution, but it's going to be about using all available capacity to do that, whilst also making sure that we do still, however challenging this is, we encourage people to come forward for treatment, because it's critical that conditions are diagnosed as early as possible, if they have a worrying condition.— early as possible, if they have a worrying condition. saffron cordery from nhs providers. _

labour leader sir kier starmer has accused the government of "leaving a hole in britain's defences" — after it delayed a plan to require all international travellers to have a covid test before flying. it follows news about a new strain of the virus coming from brazil. the rule was due to come into force today — but has been put back to next monday. he was speaking on a visit to a mass vaccination centre in stevenage. it's a complete mess again. the government has talked tough, priti patel has talked tough about the borders. other countries have been doing testing for months. we haven't put in place. people are really worried about strains in other parts of the world, in brazil, etc. yet we have a prime minister and the government that is late, slow and even though at the 11th hour they are putting the testing back another few days. more now on the news that some high street pharmacies in england will start vaccinating people from priority groups on thursday, with 200 providing jabs in the next two weeks. earlier i spoke to sebjames,

managing director of boots uk, who explained what it would be like for people going to boots for a vaccine. we are extremely anxious to make sure that people find an excellent clinical experience when they come into our stores. we are no strangers to vaccination. we do millions every year across travel and flu and all kinds of other things, but the most important thing about these first centres is they are large, they do a minimum of a thousand a week, which means that we have very carefully thought through processes, socially distant spaces and, of course, we have a number of registered health care professionals on hand to make sure it's a really excellent experience.— sure it's a really excellent exerience. , , ., , experience. this is a pilot but the ambition would _ experience. this is a pilot but the ambition would be _ experience. this is a pilot but the ambition would be to _ experience. this is a pilot but the ambition would be to roll- experience. this is a pilot but the ambition would be to roll it i experience. this is a pilot but the ambition would be to roll it out i experience. this is a pilot but the j ambition would be to roll it out to more branches. what would your ultimate aim be? we more branches. what would your ultimate aim be?— more branches. what would your ultimate aim be? we think we could aet u- to ultimate aim be? we think we could get uo to half— ultimate aim be? we think we could get no to half a _ ultimate aim be? we think we could get up to half a million _ ultimate aim be? we think we could get up to half a million a _ ultimate aim be? we think we could get up to half a million a week, i ultimate aim be? we think we could get up to half a million a week, and | get up to half a million a week, and we are discussing with the nhs how quickly they would like to do that. that would involve two things,

firstly, opening another 100 sites like the one in halifax that we opened on a snowy day today, and then the second thing is moving the process from being a minimum of 1000 a week to a smaller number so we can start thinking about how we stretch this across our 2300 branches will stop that would mean people can get conveniently a jab in their local boots the chemist. that conveniently a jab in their local boots the chemist.— conveniently a jab in their local boots the chemist. at the moment some people _ boots the chemist. at the moment some people might— boots the chemist. at the moment some people might be _ boots the chemist. at the moment some people might be invited i boots the chemist. at the moment some people might be invited but| some people might be invited but have to travel a long distance. what's the answer if they are reluctant to do that? we what's the answer if they are reluctant to do that?- reluctant to do that? we are optimistic — reluctant to do that? we are optimistic that _ reluctant to do that? we are optimistic that our _ reluctant to do that? we are i optimistic that our conversations will go well and we are very keen, ready, willing and able to get on with it. ., ., , ., ready, willing and able to get on with it. ., ., ,, ., ~ , ,, with it. how do you make sure you have not with it. how do you make sure you have got enough — with it. how do you make sure you have got enough qualified - with it. how do you make sure you have got enough qualified staff- with it. how do you make sure you have got enough qualified staff to | have got enough qualified staff to deliver this service? as we know, they are at a premium at the moment. that's one of the biggest challenges in setting up these larger sites. a big site like the one in halifax will have about 25 people working in it in order to make sure we can keep

open from atm to 8pm every day. finding those staff, training those staff and making sure we have enough cover should somebody fall ill or need to self—isolate is the big challenge, and it is the limiting factor. ., , . , challenge, and it is the limiting factor. ., , . challenge, and it is the limiting factor. ., ,. , factor. how secure is your supply of these vaccines? _ factor. how secure is your supply of these vaccines? i _ factor. how secure is your supply of these vaccines? i don't _ factor. how secure is your supply of these vaccines? i don't understand | these vaccines? i don't understand these vaccines? i don't understand the question- _ these vaccines? i don't understand the question. how _ these vaccines? i don't understand the question. how sure _ these vaccines? i don't understand the question. how sure are - these vaccines? i don't understand the question. how sure are you i these vaccines? i don't understand | the question. how sure are you you can aet the question. how sure are you you can get hold _ the question. how sure are you you can get hold of _ the question. how sure are you you can get hold of it? _ the question. how sure are you you can get hold of it? there _ the question. how sure are you you can get hold of it? there is - the question. how sure are you you can get hold of it? there is a i the question. how sure are you you can get hold of it? there is a huge l can get hold of it? there is a huge demand for it and you are effectively going to be almost competing against other pharmacists to make sure you have got as much as you need. we to make sure you have got as much as ou need. ~ ., �* ~' to make sure you have got as much as ou need. ~ ., �* ~ ., .,, you need. we don't think of it as competing. _ you need. we don't think of it as competing. for _ you need. we don't think of it as competing, for two _ you need. we don't think of it as competing, for two reasons, i you need. we don't think of it as i competing, for two reasons, firstly i've been clear that boots is not making a profit from what we do here, so it's not an economic issue, and the second thing is, much more importantly, this is a great national effort. we all have one goal and one goal only in mind, which is to get the country back on its feet, and we are pleased to be a

part of that effort. i its feet, and we are pleased to be a part of that effort.— part of that effort. i am guessing ou will part of that effort. i am guessing you will have _ part of that effort. i am guessing you will have to _ part of that effort. i am guessing you will have to prioritise - part of that effort. i am guessing you will have to prioritise your. part of that effort. i am guessing l you will have to prioritise your own staff, to vaccinate them first to make sure they are safe. ihla. staff, to vaccinate them first to make sure they are safe. no, we will follow the protocols _ make sure they are safe. no, we will follow the protocols the _ make sure they are safe. no, we will follow the protocols the nhs - make sure they are safe. no, we will follow the protocols the nhs give i follow the protocols the nhs give us, and the nhs has ten priority groups, and we will be vaccinating those groups in the order that they are issued their letters and make appointments with us. we are very clear that we can't sneak vaccines in to anybody we want. we need to make sure we follow the right protocols. make sure we follow the right protocols-— make sure we follow the right rotocols. . ~' ., ., i” protocols. going back to what you said about boots _ protocols. going back to what you said about boots not _ protocols. going back to what you said about boots not making i protocols. going back to what you said about boots not making any. said about boots not making any money out of this, because there has been concern and criticism about contracts being given it without proper tendering processes and oversight, and the assumption would be that some companies would have sought to profiteer. talk to us about how you are funding this and why you are doing it and what you are getting paid to do this. i why you are doing it and what you are getting paid to do this.- are getting paid to do this. i don't want to go — are getting paid to do this. i don't want to go into — are getting paid to do this. i don't want to go into the _ are getting paid to do this. i don't want to go into the details - are getting paid to do this. i don't want to go into the details of i are getting paid to do this. i don't| want to go into the details of what we are getting paid, but the

coromandel get paid is 12.50 8p per vaccine, like everybody else. —— the core amount we get paid. we have no intention of making any profit out of it. we are open book in every relationship we have, in particular with the testing, and we think that's important. i can't really speak for others except to say that i think most people who operate in my industry are pretty good people, and i think most of us recognise that right now ourjob is to roll up our sleeves and get on with it. the manauuin our sleeves and get on with it. the managing director of boots uk. a team of 13 international scientists have arrived in the chinese city of wuhan to investigate the origins of covid—i9. the world health organization has spent many months negotiating the visit with beijing. the who says it is not seeking to apportion blame for the virus, but to prevent future outbreaks. fabian leendertz is a professor in the epidemiology of highly pathogenic micro—organisms at germany's public health body, the robert koch institute. he's working with the investigation

and says it will be broad in scope. well, the starting point is this first mission to wuhan. so, my colleagues who are on site now will check with the local scientists which data are already available, and which are still needed to be established, to then have all parts of the puzzle ready to develop a good picture on how the jump of the virus from animal to human happened. i think everybody is very interested in finding out what really happened, because only when you know how these epidemics started, you can also identify ways to reduce the risk of these things happening again in the future. and the signals we have so far, and this is why the team is on the ground now, have been very positive. our china correspondent,

robin brant, is in wuhan. there were mistakes early on in terms of how the authorities in wuhan dealt with the virus but aside from that it was a victory in what was a war for this country. the who tried to come injuly but ended up with two members of the team staying in a hotel for a fortnight and then going home. they are now here. it's a year since the outbreak began, but there were hitches even last week, with visas, we understand, and also issues of dates and arrangements. two members of the team, the wall streetjournal is reporting, didn't manage to come because of some confusion over testing, which showed the presence of covid antibodies, so it seems to have proved problematic.

this team is here and they are ready to get going, and the key thing, as i think your clip alluded to, is what kind of access they are going to have, what kind of access to crucial places in wuhan and beyond, in other parts of china. and what kind of access are they going to have a research material which china has been gathering over the last year. wejust has been gathering over the last year. we just don't know at this stage what the answer to those questions are, but they will be crucial to the ability of these investigators to try and work out how it started, where it started, how it started, where it started, how it started, where it started, how itjumped from bats to possibly other animals and then humans, because that is what at the heart of trying to work out this problem. their arrival coincides with the first death from covid—i9 reported in china for quite some time. the authorities _ in china for quite some time. he authorities here in china for quite some time. tie: authorities here are dealing with a resurgence in covid cases, with several hundred in a province far from here. wuhan is safe and normal,

but there is adequate anxiety because that area around the capital of beijing. one death was announced today, the first for eight months, which gives you an idea of how successful china has been in containing the virus, but tonight there are in excess of 20 million people under various restrictions in various areas of the north—east of china to try and contain and limit the potential for china to try and contain and limit the potentialfor a china to try and contain and limit the potential for a second outbreak. the headlines on bbc news... nearly four and a half million people were waiting to start hospital treatment in england at the end of november — the highest number since records began. hospital trusts in birmingham temporarily suspend kidney transplants, as nhs services struggle to cope with covid—i9. from this morning, the coronavirus vaccine will be made available at some high—street pharmacies in england. ireland's taoiseach has apologised after an investigation into the country's mother and baby homes. established in the 19th and 20th

centuries, the institutions housed women and girls who became pregnant outside marriage. a report found an "appalling level of infant mortality". micheal martin apologised for the "profound and generational wrong" to survivors of mother—and—baby homes. about 9,000 children died in the 18 institutions under investigation. earlier, my colleague annita mcveigh spoke to damejudi dench, who played philomena lee in the 2013 film philomena, which was based on the real—life story of a mother's search for the son she was forced to give up for adoption in 19505 ireland. i was lucky enough before filming to meet philomena, so i got to know her, and a very remarkable person. and ifeel as though i know the her, and a very remarkable person. and i feel as though i know the tip of the iceberg of all this, and i

cannot imagine, i can't imagine, and to getan cannot imagine, i can't imagine, and to get an apology all this time laterfrom to get an apology all this time later from the taoiseach, i suppose it goes a little way towards the heart—rending pain of all those mothers who never knew what happened to their children and have spent their whole lives not knowing. in philomena's case, she searched for anthony and eventually found him after terrible years of pain, and i can't imagine. i suppose an apology goes some way to somehow putting things slightly at rest after such a long time. i things slightly at rest after such a lona time. ., ., ., , ~ long time. i wonder what it was like for ou to long time. i wonder what it was like for you to play _ long time. i wonder what it was like for you to play that _ long time. i wonder what it was like for you to play that role. _ long time. i wonder what it was like for you to play that role. you i long time. i wonder what it was like for you to play that role. you have l for you to play that role. you have famously played many notable fictional characters, but to portray

a real story, a person who, as you say, you are able to actually meet and to hear first—hand what she had gone through. what was that like for you? gone through. what was that like for ou? ., , gone through. what was that like for ou? . , . ~ ., gone through. what was that like for ou? . , ., ~ ., you? having first hand knowledge, as ou sa , you? having first hand knowledge, as you say. right — you? having first hand knowledge, as you say. right on _ you? having first hand knowledge, as you say, right on your— you? having first hand knowledge, as you say, right on your doorstep, i you say, right on your doorstep, because she was there much of the time, philomena, so it was not something that you had to feel in your imagination or work out with the director, it was there all the time, and i had herstory the director, it was there all the time, and i had her story right there. , ., , ., time, and i had her story right there. , .,, ., i. time, and i had her story right there. , .,, ., ,~/ ., there. did it feel as though you had a creater there. did it feel as though you had a greater burden _ there. did it feel as though you had a greater burden almost _ there. did it feel as though you had a greater burden almost on - there. did it feel as though you had a greater burden almost on your. a greater burden almost on your shoulders to try and tell the story of injustice? it shoulders to try and tell the story of injustice?— of in'ustice? it was a tricky time. the of injustice? it was a tricky time. the film was _ of injustice? it was a tricky time. the film was shown, _ of injustice? it was a tricky time. the film was shown, and - of injustice? it was a tricky time. i the film was shown, and philomena was there privately, before it came out. that was a tricky time. i hope that it drew attention to what

happened. i thought the story was wonderfully written, and i hope it drew attention to what happened and the plight of so many women. find the plight of so many women. and erha -s the plight of so many women. and perhaps part _ the plight of so many women. and perhaps part of — the plight of so many women. and perhaps part of the reason why, at the beginning of this week, there was that apology.— was that apology. that's right. i wonder what — was that apology. that's right. i wonder what they _ was that apology. that's right. i wonder what they feel - was that apology. that's right. i wonder what they feel about i was that apology. that's right. i l wonder what they feel about that. was that apology. that's right. i i wonder what they feel about that. i am sure it did a lot to draw the world's attention to it and to add pressure, i would world's attention to it and to add pressure, iwould imagine, to all of those people in ireland who had been calling for a long time for an apology. calling for a long time for an a halo . calling for a long time for an aholo . “ calling for a long time for an aoloa . ~ ., ., ., apology. some kind of recognition of the ain apology. some kind of recognition of the pain that — apology. some kind of recognition of the pain that they _ apology. some kind of recognition of the pain that they suffered _ apology. some kind of recognition of the pain that they suffered for i the pain that they suffered for years and years and years. and still not knowing where their children went. damejudi dame judi dench speaking damejudi dench speaking to annita mcveigh. taking a holiday might not be possible at the moment, but tour

operators say more of us are booking for the summer, as confidence in the vaccine grows. national express say they've had 185% growth in the last two weeks and tui say bookings have jumped by 50% in the same period. our business reporter, simon browning, has more. holidays. millions of us missed out last year. no sea, no sun, no long sunset drinks. instead we got cancellations and refunds. now as the mass roll—out of the vaccine gets under way, tour operators say we're booking again and looking for sunnier climes. we launched our spring/summer brochure this weekend gone, and on monday we took a week's worth of bookings in a day. jit runs holidays and tours for national express coach businesses. booking have surged by 185% in the 65—plus market, compared with the same period last year. many of them have had their first jab and they know within 12 weeks they will receive their second jab.

that gives a level of certainty, certainty that they can enjoy and look forward to their 2021 holiday. it is giving them something to look forward to because when you book a holiday, there is the lead—up time, excitement and anticipation. with so many of us stuck at home for months on end, 2020 meant lots of us have not been further than the kitchen. maybe you were lucky enough to have a few trips to the garden. maybe you have had a few trips to the shops. people wanting to start travelling again is great news for an industry that has had a terrible ten months. tui is the uk's biggest tour operator. greece, turkey and spain are our favourites. at the moment, everything is suspended. in the last few weeks, over 50% of our booking on our website have been the over—505. the tui uk boss says they're seeing the same trend. we are seeing people booking longer holidays.

rather than the straight seven nights, they're booking tens, elevens and 1115. maybe trying to catch a bit of that missed holiday backup. we are seeing them go into more multi—generational and broader groups. it is a bit more of a biggerfamily holiday that is coming through. whilst we all dream, it has been a tough year for the industry. abta estimates 90,000 jobs have been lost. this is utterly fantastic news, hugely welcomed by an industry that has been entirely devastated by this pandemic. ten months into this crisis and the travel industry has still received zero dedicated financial support from the government. this is the first sign of the light at the end of the tunnel for the sector. who isn't going to want a holiday after the annus horribilis that was 2020? we'll all yearning for the sun when our days seem so long and dark. but the vaccine is bringing hope and sunnier, brighter moments to come. simon browning, bbc news.

some breaking news to bring you now from russia, where the federal penal service, the fsi end, as indicated that plans to rest alexei navalny, the protest leader, upon his return from germany. alexei navalny is currently in germany, recovering from novichok poisoning, which he blames on the kremlin. he plans to return to russia at the weekend, on the 17th of january. the return to russia at the weekend, on the 17th ofjanuary. the fsi directorate have told a state news agency that they are obliged to take all actions necessary, in their words, to arrest a fender navalny until the court rules on replacing his suspended sentence with a real jail term for he received a suspended jail term in 2014 and the fsi want this to be an actual prison sentence. the european court of

human rights four years ago ruled that the embezzlement conviction was arbitrary and manifestly unreasonable. jane hill will be with you for the news at 1pm, taking us there is the weather. plenty of gear changes with the weather in the next couple of days. no two days the same. across the northern half of the country today, many scenes like this, with some heavy snow first thing across scotland and northern england. we had heavy rain in north—west england at the midlands down to the london area, some localised flooding. the rain and snow will tend to linger through much of the afternoon. this has been the story of the last few hours, the snow across scotland, northern england and perhaps part of lincolnshire, but it's cheaply rain further south. through the rest of the afternoon, slowly brightening up into northern ireland, with a brisk northerly wind. cloudier draw the

tank across wales and south—west england. in terms of the feel of the weather, it stays mild in the south—west, but elsewhere it's going to be a cool afternoon, particularly if you keep the cloud and rain. temperatures in some places struggling to climb a degree or so above freezing. tonight, that cloud and rain and snow will slowly start to ease away and the winds will fall light. that could cause an issue and we could see some dense freezing fog in places, and almost anywhere we see moisture through the day is at risk of some icy stretches. these will be the temperatures, widely down around orjust below freezing. if you have to make an essential journey first thing tomorrow, it's worth bearing in mind, ice and freezing fog could be an issue. tune in to your local radio stations for further and travel updates. this ridge of high pressure quieten things down for friday put up the next gear change is waiting in the wings for the start of the weekend. once we have got red hopefully of

the dense freezing fog and, in some places, it will lingerfor the dense freezing fog and, in some places, it will linger for quite some time icy stretches, it will be acquired and brighter day for many, and it will continue to feel pretty cold. two to 4 degrees at best. a bit milder the further west you are. as we move into saturday, here is the next low pressure moving in, turning increasingly wet and windy, with plenty of isobars are starting to push across the chart. that means a spell of wet and heavy rain across the country on saturday, but the gear change comes on sunday, with drier, brighterand quieter gear change comes on sunday, with drier, brighter and quieter weather.

record breaking numbers of people are waiting to start routine hospital treatment in england — those waiting over a year is 100 times higher than it was before the pandemic. nearly 4.5 million were waiting at the end of november — the royal college of surgeons says it shows covid's calamitous impact. the numbers of patients in a kind of hidden waiting list are probably building up in addition to this, so it's likely that that figure is even bigger. we'll have the latest a&e waiting time figures as well — i'll be joined by our health editor. also this lunchtime... vaccinations in high street pharmacies — a pilot project gets underway

in england to deliver the covid jab. they in england to deliver the covid jab. come here for