the royal college of — places, like shops. the royal college of nursing _ places, like shops. of nursing is wanting | college of nursing is wanting that dropping plan b will do nothing to ease the pressure on the nhs but the government believes the booster programme has made a real difference and that the omicron wave has a pig- that the omicron wave has a pig. it will also look to enter the legal requirement for people who test positive to isolate and replace it guidance by the end of march. from next week many restrictions in hospitality in scotland would be lifted. in northern ireland, ministers set to consider relaxation. but long—term strategies are being looked at to live with the virus. simon jones, bbc news as covid cases mount up in hong kong, so do new restrictions. face—to—face teaching, already suspended in primary schools, will cease in secondary schools from monday. meanwhile, thousands of people there have volunteered to adopt hamsters. it's the reaction to a decision by the authorities to cull 2,000 of them overfears they are spreading covid—i9. mark lobel repor

there is concern from both the royal college of nurses and midwives— both the royal college of nurses delay this decision, _ midwives to try and delay this decision, but actually, the government have set this deliberately. it was set sometime a-o. deliberately. it was set sometime ago to _ deliberately. it was set sometime ago. to give people time to go and -et ago. to give people time to go and get the _ ago. to give people time to go and get the vaccinations, and effort has been _ get the vaccinations, and effort has been made — get the vaccinations, and effort has been made across the nhs to encourage people to do that, but these _ encourage people to do that, but these are — encourage people to do that, but these are people taking a very principled stand will sub the flip side of— principled stand will sub the flip side of this is going to be whether we are _ side of this is going to be whether we are going to go to a stage where patients— we are going to go to a stage where patients are going to be requesting they are _ patients are going to be requesting they are going to be req

the i reports calls from the royal college of nursing for the government to take a more cautious approachcoronavirus, to help ease those pressures. the head of thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation has told the telegraph that fourth covid jabs shouldn't be given until there's more evidence that they're effective. professor sir andrew pollard also says we'll need to target the most vulnerable, rather than boosting the whole population in the future. it's as the daily express reports the prime minister saying high vaccination rates will help the country deal with the pandemic. prince andrew is on the front of the metro, as well as many other papers, here opposite virginia guiffre. it's after the publication of a document that the prince's legal team believe will force prosecutors to drop a civil case against him. the paper's other headline looks at what it calls "seismic" increases in energy bills expected this year. and the ft focuses on apple becoming the first company to be valued at $3 trillion. it also reports that the uk will lag behind other countries in recovering from

the latest survey from the royal college of nursing shows that more than half of staff are consideringkey reasons. in the second of his special reports from the royal london hospital, clive myrie looks at the mental toll on frontline staff. how far would you go to find your humanity? i was just really struggling with the whole culmination of what we were going through, and it felt like every shift i was going to work with you having to open more beds and we were seeing more people who were really, really sick with covid. now former nhs senior sister becky smith is in australia, her faith in herself restored. i first met her on the main covid ward of the royal london hospital during the first wave. we will make a decision about whether it is appropriate to continue with what we are doing at the moment. among her duties was telling families that there was no hope for their sick relative, and then she would switch off the life—support machine. becky would always stay with the patient, just for a few moments, behind the partition as life passed to death, holding their hand in respect. then

caused by a surgeon convict cases. thousands of doctors, nurses, and other health workers are off either sick with the virus or having to isolate the royal college of nursing is described. the situation is a crisis saying that government can no longer dismiss it at the barbara is outside hospital in central london. winter is always a very stressful time for anyone who works in a hospital like the one behind 3. anyway, with illnesses such as flu, more accidents and so on. so we heard earlier in the week from bars johnson, the prime minister that he didn't want to bring in more restrictions, even though while the car was continuing to spread quickly through the population. but he did admit that what he said, but the chest, the national health service, would be temporarily overwhelmed. well, it depends what your definition of overwhelmed as to whether that's already happened. new statistics suggests that more than 3700000 people in the u. k. would have tested positive for coffee, 900 last week. the real figure could actually be higher because testing has become quite tricky in recent weeks, or people having trouble getting hold of kids. but anyway,

patricia marquis is regional director for england at the royal college of nursing. es. how much of an effect as it having to follow your members? it’s effect as it having to follow your members?— members? it's really very significant. _ members? it's really very significant. they - members? it's really very significant. they have - members? it's really very. significant. they have been members? it's really very - significant. they have been working in difficult circumstances for 20 months in the nhs and other social care services are trying to make up for lost time so we are already under pressure and now with the omicron with seemingly taking many staff off sick, the pressures are really immense, both for the nursing community, health and social care and staff working in that sector. would it help if the period for self isolation were reduced or would that create more problems? it isolation were reduced or would that create more problems?— create more problems? it would alwa s create more problems? it would always help _ create more problems? it would always help if

the royal college of nursing said the government could no longer deny there was a "staffing crisis" inpressure on london hospitals has increased over the past month, with 4,000 patients currently in hospital with covid compared with 1,100 in december. meanwhile, outside of london, hospitalisations have also been ticking upwards with almost 18,000 patients currently in hospital with covid. as of thursday afternoon, 17 hospital trusts in england were experiencing critical incidents — concerned they might not be able to provide core priority services, such as emergency care. it means they can get extra help and draft staff in from other duties. health secretary sajid javid urged people to get their vaccinations to help cut the pressure on the nhs, as he welcomed support from the military. more from our health correspondent, katharine da costa. the nhs is on a warfooting, and it's calling out for reinforcements. london's hospitals have been hit hardest by covid—related absences — more than 5,000 staff in acute trusts were absent in the week up to boxing day. the nhs is on a warfooting, and

the latest survey from the royal college of nursing, shows that more than half of staff are consideringt the mental toll on frontline staff. how far would you go to find your humanity? i how far would you go to find your humani ? ., , , humanity? i was 'ust really struggling_ humanity? i was 'ust really struggling with h humanity? i wasjust really struggling with the - humanity? i wasjust really struggling with the whole i struggling with the whole culmination of what we were going through, and it felt like every shift i was going to work with you having to open more beds and we were seeing more people who were really, really sick with covid.— really sick with covid. now, former nhs senior— really sick with covid. now, former nhs senior sister _ really sick with covid. now, former nhs senior sister becky _ really sick with covid. now, former nhs senior sister becky smith - really sick with covid. now, former nhs senior sister becky smith is i nhs senior sister becky smith is in australia, herfaith in herself restored. ifirst met australia, herfaith in herself restored. i first met her o

the royal college of nursing said the government could no longer deny there was a "staffing crisis" intal of 39,142 nhs staff at hospital trusts in england were absent for covid—19 reasons onjanuary 2nd, up 59% on the previous week. meanwhile, pressure on london hospitals has increased over the past month, with 4,000 patients currently in hospital with covid compared with 1,100 in december. health secretary sajid javid urged people to get their vaccinations to help cut the pressure on the nhs, as he welcomed support from the military. more from our health correspondent, katharine da costa. the nhs is on a warfooting, and it's calling out for reinforcements. london's hospitals have been hit hardest by covid—related absences — more than 5,000 staff in acute trusts were absent in the week up to boxing day. it's led to the armed forces once again being called on for support over the next three weeks. a0 military medics will assist with patient care. 160 personnel will carry out tasks including checking in patients and basic checks. separately, 32 military co—respondents will also be deploy

a representative of the royal college of nursing asks, once the military has been brought in, where does the government turn next in a bid to ride out the wave rather than deal with it? that hints at the frustrations over what many people in the. busy health services say is can as years of under funding and under resourcing, similar calls to deal with the care sector as well. because a big problem is that people can't leave off with a long time because they don't have a care home place to go to. so yes, a morale is very, very low at the moment. if you talk to nurses and doctors and so on, in places like this or phone in shoes in britain, a foot of an h. s. workers who are really, really depressed. they're at their wits end as to where the very going to catch the virus or whether they're a contact of a positive case, an app to stay at home feeling guilty that they can't work and so on. but the government is holding firm saying that they think that the wave could end fairly soon for the moment, no new restrictions. this move, bringing the military in. is it not just a gesture, it will help

the royal college of nursing welcome the help but said it illustrates a staffing crisis in the nhs. als have also closed to visitors. surrey heartlands health and care partnership says it has a plan in place, including bringing in temporary staff, and redeploying existing workers to critical services. meanwhile, kent and medway�*s clinical commissioning group says it's planning for significant staffing issues in the coming weeks with increasing covid absences. with only 80% of the eligible population having had the booster jab, it's urging people to get the vaccine in order to protect the nhs. young people have said they feel insecure about renting in the capital and it's precarious. that's according to research among 18 to 30—year—olds. the report by poverty charity toynbee hall asked young people over two years about how renting in london is affecting their lives and found that some feel they have no choice but to accept poor living standards. eastbourne's refuse workers are on strike this morning after talks on a new pay deal failed to reach a resolution. the council claims its of

the royal college of nursing is warning that dropping plan b will do nothing to ease the pressure onbut the government believes the booster programme has made a real difference, and that the 0micron wave has peaked. it will also look to end the legal requirement for people who test positive to self—isolate, and replace it with guidance by the end of march. from next week, many restrictions on hospitality in scotland will be lifted. in wales, nightclubs will be able to reopen. in northern ireland, ministers are set to consider relaxations. but all nations are urging caution, as they attempt to draw up long—term strategies for coexisting with the virus. simon jones, bbc news. borisjohnson�*s political allies are suggesting the immediate threat to his leadership has eased. they say the defection of one of his mps, to the opposition labour party, appears to have persuaded other mps not to challenge him this week. it's now thought many tory backbenchers will wait for the report into downing street parties before deciding their next move. the investigation, by the senior civil servant sue

the employment survey conducted by the royal college of nurses published last month found two thirdspports the wellbeing of healthcare workers — dame clare gerada. white neck why is the why is the problem so acute at the moment? ., ~ , ., ., , moment? thank you. clearly the andemic moment? thank you. clearly the pandemic is _ moment? thank you. clearly the pandemic is the _ moment? thank you. clearly the pandemic is the catalyst - moment? thank you. clearly the pandemic is the catalyst that - moment? thank you. clearly the j pandemic is the catalyst that has increased the numbers of staff who have got mental health problems. nhs staff had problems before the pandemic but it has been catalysed since. what doctors in distress has been doing during the pandemic is holding online, not face—to—face, groups for all sorts of health professionals, doctors, nurses, paramedics and others, so they can come together and share their experience and get and give support so they don't become mentally ill. what we are asking for is that it becomes an integral part of every single health worker's job,

front line workers, the royal couege front line workers, the royal college of nursing, the nhs confederation sage and the modelling group both warned about this and said by the time hospitalisations start increasing it will be too late to take action. the earlier action we take action. the earlier action we take the more effective in preventing huge disruption to service of the nhs which is happening now. when you are calling on the military to support the nhs and the nhs is well past overwhelmed, it's quite interesting we have been told repeatedly the nhs was not going to come under unsustainable pressure despite scientists saying this would happen and now it has happened. and i don't see the government taking any responsibility or action for what was certainly not inevitable. i5 was certainly not inevitable. is there anything the government could do at this point to help the nhs? you do not out of nowhere especially when staff are already off ill or isolating themselves. i when staff are already off ill or isolating themselves.- isolating themselves. i think there's a lot _ isolating thems

the royal college of nursing is warning that dropping plan b will do nothing to ease the pressure ont the government believes the booster programme has made a real difference, and that the omicron wave has peaked. it will also look to end the legal requirement for people who test positive to self—isolate, and replace it with guidance by the end of march. from next week, many restrictions on hospitality in scotland will be lifted. in wales, nightclubs will be able to reopen. in northern ireland, ministers are set to consider relaxations. but all nations are urging caution, as they attempt to draw up long—term strategies for coexisting with the virus. simon jones, bbc news. downing street has said boris johnson will fight any challenge to his leadership of the conservative party. it follows a fiery day in the commons over the so—called partygate scandal, with one new mp defecting to the labour party, and a former cabinet minister calling for the prime minister to stand down. nick eardley reports. calm? there isn't much of it around here. westminster is tense about a report into what pa

we are joined by the director of the royal college of nursing in england and chair of the national carele who have lost their - morning. frustrated, sad end for all the people who have lost theirjobs| the people who have lost theirjobs needlessly. it epitomises the position of the government on social care. they trialled it despite the fact we had more vacancies at that time than the nhs has now. and yet they did not listen to the same mitigations, the same arguments. they were put aside. i think we are really happy for our nhs colleagues if this is what is going to happen because it is an unnecessary burden and persuasion will bring us to the same outcome. the and persuasion will bring us to the same outcome.— and persuasion will bring us to the same outcome. the same question to ou. your same outcome. the same question to you. your reaction _ same outcome. the same question to you. your reaction to _ same outcome. the same question to you. your reaction to the _ same outcome. the same question to you. your reaction to the story - same outcome. the same question to you. your reaction t

nurses by the end of the parliament. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. joining me now is tim mitchell, vice president of the royal collegebc news today. i want to talk about your work as a surgeon first of all. in common with other health professionals, you have had to speak to patients and say" we cannot do the work we have planned to do new, that must feel incredibly frustrating for you and them. good afternoon. frustrating for you and them. good afternoon- it _ frustrating for you and them. good afternoon. it is _ frustrating for you and them. good afternoon. it is terribly _ afternoon. it is terribly frustrating for the whole of the surgical team. frustrating for the whole of the surgicalteam. i undertake frustrating for the whole of the surgical team. i undertake ear surgery, and particularly cochlear implants which are electric devices we put into the inner ear of people with very poor hearing. in order to allow them to communicate and to return to a hearing world. we understand that because of covid that has had a massive impact on the ability of the health service to deliver routine care. but it has meant that as