Month: December 2021

A & E performance reaches record lows once again as fears grow for coming weeks

The latest weekly update of Emergency Department activity and waiting time statistics show:

  • Four-hour performance was second lowest on record at 69.7%
  • There were 24,009 attendances
  • 7,285 patients were delayed by four hours or more, equal to one-third of patients
  • 1,803 patients were delayed by eight hours or more
  • 598 patients were delayed by 12 hours or more

Responding to these figures, Dr John Thomson, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Scotland, said:“The latest data is shocking, as performance sinks to record lows once again. Staff are working tirelessly in Emergency Departments, and we anticipate pressures to mount further as covid surges across Scotland, and with this performance to drop even more.

“We are deeply concerned. Our fear is that staff absences due to covid may prevent the health service from delivering effective care. The current pressures are already leading to long waits for patients, ambulance handover delays, dangerous crowding and corridor care. If we lose staff to covid, these consequences will be further exacerbated. We know that long waits in Emergency Departments threaten patient safety and can lead to avoidable harm or death.

“The crisis is extremely worrying. The coming weeks will be a significant challenge, morale is already plummeting as concern for whether the health service in Scotland will be able to cope is escalating.

“We hope the public understand the unprecedented pressures facing the health service and the crisis that is deepening each week. Staff are doing all they can to deliver effective care and to keep patients safe.

“We urge the public to be cautious in the coming weeks, to use face masks, avoid crowded places, get tested and isolate when they have symptoms, and crucially, to get vaccinated or boosted – these steps go a small way to alleviating pressures on Emergency Departments and the wider health service.”

Domestic Abuse: 7,500 people told of partner’s abusive past

More than 7,500 people have been told of a partner’s abusive past since the launch of a scheme six years ago to help tackle domestic abuse.

Police Scotland’s Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse in Scotland (DSDAS) was launched in October 2015 following a successful trial in Ayrshire and Aberdeen, and since then has received over 13,000 requests to ask about the background of a partner.

Of the 13,334 requests received, 7,530 people (56 per cent) were told that their current partner has a violent or abusive past.

Detective Chief Superintendent Sam Faulds, Head of Public Protection, said: “Behind the numbers are people who have either escaped becoming victims of domestic abuse, or who are now aware of their partner’s abusive past.

“Abusers manipulate and control their victims. Abuse can be gradual and it can be very difficult for victims of domestic abuse to recognise their situation and to then take action to get themselves out of it.

“DSDAS provides that first step. It can help prevent domestic abuse and the long term damage it can cause victims, their families and their children.

“People told about a partner’s past have the right to choose the course of action they wish to take, and practical support and advice is available from our partners.

“The scheme exists not just for those who may be at risk but for their friends or families to use too.

“Each year reports of domestic abuse increase over the festive period. This year we are acutely aware of the impact of the pandemic on victims locked in with the person responsible for their abuse.

“So this festive season we are appealing to friends, family, colleagues and neighbours or anyone who sees something to call it out if they are concerned that someone may be a victim of domestic abuse. Get in touch with us and we will make sure that person is ok and we will investigate the circumstances. 

“All it takes is one person to alert us and we can help end the threat and harm caused by domestic abuse.”

Dr. Marsha Scott, Chief Executive of Scottish Women’s Aid said: “Survivors of domestic abuse face so many barriers to seeking support, and for loved ones it can be challenging finding the best way to support them safely.

“Providing a tool like the disclosure scheme that can inform survivors or their loved ones of previous abusive behaviour, could help in preventing harm to women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. If you are worried about someone you know, we want to remind you that our helpline is available 24/7 for confidential advice.”

Kate Wallace, Chief Executive of Victim Support Scotland, comments: “We fully support Police Scotland’s campaign, and hope this encourages people who have experienced domestic abuse to realise that they are not alone.

“With reports of domestic abuse increasing in Scotland, it is important to recognise the long-term trauma that domestic abuse can cause.

“Almost 90% of domestic abuse victims experience financial and coercive control. Our Victims’ Fund has helped hundreds of people in these situations purchase, for example, security systems, furniture for temporary housing, and household essentials. For many this is providing a lifeline.

“Victim Support Scotland provides confidential and emotional support to help empower anyone who may find themselves a victim of domestic abuse, going some way to give people the confidence to take back control of their lives.”

If you, or anyone you know, are being abused or are at risk of abuse, please contact Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Or if you need support please contact Scotland’s domestic abuse and forced marriage helpline on 0800 027 1234, where support is available 24/7.

Our domestic abuse campaign will run across various social media platforms until the end of January 2022. 

Scots urged to seek financial support and access the benefits they are entitled to

A new campaign which will help people in the Lothians struggling financially get support and access the benefits that they are entitled to has been launched.

The campaign comes as a survey reveals that just over 1 in 5 (21%) Scots living in the Lothians, wouldn’t feel comfortable receiving any type of financial benefits or grants, even if they were eligible, and seeks to address the stigma that people may have around claiming benefits.

The YouGov survey, commissioned by the Scottish Government, also found that people in the Lothians were concerned about being judged by others for receiving benefits, with 17% saying that they were concerned about being judged for receiving Universal Credit, and 10% for receiving Child Tax Credits.

These results indicate that there may be people in the Lothians who are eligible for financial support, whether that be benefits or grants, but aren’t taking the help that’s available because of how others may perceive them for doing so.

The survey comes as the Scottish Government launches a dedicated website –  www.moneysupport.scot – to help those experiencing financial difficulties find the support they need.

The Money Support Scotland website contains information and contact details for a range of organisations able to provide information on benefits people could be eligible for, where to go for free and impartial debt advice and how to apply for affordable credit.

The Money Support Scotland campaign is working in partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland and Advice Direct Scotland, which both help people understand what benefits they might be entitled to and how to apply for them.

The Citizens Advice network in Scotland offers free, impartial and confidential advice, with trained advisers able to help explain how people can maximise their income through benefits and grants, cut costs and help manage debt.

Its Money Map tool helps people check which benefits and grants they might be entitled to, as well as eligibility for council tax reductions and support with housing and energy costs. Advice Direct Scotland also provide financial advice and offer a free benefit calculator on their website.

Citizens Advice Scotland Chief Executive Derek Mitchell said: “People shouldn’t feel uncomfortable about accessing the support they are entitled to. That’s how the welfare state works – we all pay in and get support when we need it.  That’s what the money is there for, and after the past few years people should be confident about getting the payments they are due. 

“The reality is people are facing a perfect storm this winter of rising bills and falling incomes, so maximising your income and getting all the money you are entitled to is really important to help with bills and spending.

“Citizens Advice Scotland is proud to partner with the Scottish Government on this important campaign to ensure people get the help they need this winter. The Citizens Advice network can give people help in a variety of ways and during the pandemic we unlocked around £147 million for people through things like social security payments, employment entitlements and debt reductions.”

There’s a wide range of support available to Scots of all ages from one-off payments to help with the cost of school uniforms to ongoing support with living costs.

To find out where to seek advice on accessing the range of financial support available, visit www.moneysupport.scot.

Stroke Association warns number of untreated strokes likely to rise due to rise in Omicron cases

The UK’s largest stroke charity is warning people not to delay seeking treatment for stroke due to fear of Omicron

The Stroke Association is concerned that public fear of increasing COVID-19 rates, due to the Omicron variant, is likely to see a similar drop in stroke admissions seen in Scotland at the start of the pandemic. 

During the first wave of the pandemic there was a significant decrease in admissions to stroke wards, when the COVID-19 infection rate rose rapidly. The Stroke Association’s Recoveries at Risk report found this was due to patient worries over catching COVID-19 or being a burden on the NHS. Nearly a third (32%) of people who survived a stroke between March and June 2020 said they delayed seeking medical attention due to COVID-19.

This year, with the added impact of reported ambulance delays, this is likely to intensify feelings of being a burden on the NHS, causing people to delay seeking medical treatment.

To add to this potential crisis, new data shows that this year, more people are living with unmanaged hypertension (high blood pressure) and other major stroke risk factors due to fewer regular in-person appointments where cardiovascular conditions (like high blood pressure) are spotted.

Hypertension is the biggest risk factor for stroke, contributing to 55.4% of stroke cases. This means that the stroke rate could rise this Christmas as more people live with unmanaged hypertension than in previous years.

In Scotland there are almost 10,000 strokes a year and 128,000 stroke survivors. A stroke is a medical emergency which is caused by a blockage or bleed in the brain cutting off blood supply. Stroke is fatal in over one in seven (15 %) patients.

The main treatments for stroke, thrombolysis and thrombectomy, must be delivered as soon as possible within four and a half hours of symptoms starting, which is why is it vital to call 999 as soon as any sign of stroke appears. Stroke is the UK’s fourth biggest killer and the leading cause of adult disability.

Key stats:

  • Of those who delayed seeking emergency medical attention, 42% hadn’t wanted to burden emergency services
  • And 34% of those who delayed seeking emergency medical attention were afraid of catching COVID-19 in hospital.

John Watson, Associate Director Scotland of the Stroke Association said: “When COVID cases rise as quickly as they are doing now, that sets off alarm bells at our charity and everyone involved in the treatment of stroke. More Omicron cases is likely to mean more preventable deaths and disability due to stroke, as people delay seeking emergency medical attention.

“We know that people get scared to go to hospital when cases rise but stroke is a life-threatening condition. Fear of catching COVID and feeling like a burden on the NHS stopped people calling 999 in the past. This is likely to be even worse this Christmas due to the news about ambulance delays. Stroke is an emergency medical condition and should be treated as an emergency from the moment you ring 999.

“You have to remember that stroke is a brain attack and when you see any of the FAST signs of stroke in someone, this means that their brain is dying. You must raise the alarm; you must call 999 immediately.

“After nearly two years in the pandemic we know that many people haven’t had their high blood pressure diagnosed because there haven’t been as many regular, in-person appointments with medical professionals such as GPs. That means more people are living with undetected high blood pressure and are at high risk of stroke. As a result, we could see even more people having a stroke this Christmas than in previous years.”

John continues: “Stroke clinicians and nurses as well as paramedics and therapists have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to maintain stroke services. Everyone at our charity is thankful for their hard work and support.”

Signs of stroke (FAST test)

Face – Can the person smile? Has their face fallen on one side?
Arms – Can the person raise both arms and keep them there?
Speech problems – Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurred?
Time – If you see any single one of these signs, it’s time to call 999

Business Gateway launches retail recovery programme in Capital

Supporting local businesses continues to be a focus as a new Retail: Recover & Grow programme is launched to support the Capital’s retail community as challenges continue to arise from the pandemic.

Looking to help local, independent retail business owners or directors survive and thrive following the pandemic, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Business Gateway Edinburgh has developed a new pilot programme designed to assist skills development, knowledge, and foster confidence for businesses to recover and grow their operations.

Part funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), this three-day programme takes place over three months and will initially help six participants. Starting at the end of January and taking place virtually, the programme is free and will cover a variety of topics including sales, marketing, customer journey, customer service and PR resulting in a personalised retail strategy action plan. 

Councillor Kate Campbell, Fair Work Convener, said: “The last 21 months have been extremely difficult for retail businesses who have had to adapt rapidly to changing circumstances with absolutely no certainty about what the coming months, and often weeks, will look like.

“We’ve seen some amazing innovation with retailers quickly developing their digital presence and innovating in order to survive. But as the last few weeks have proven, there are many more challenges ahead.  With this new pilot programme from Business Gateway Edinburgh we hope to help support businesses by equipping people with up-to-date knowledge, expertise and advice.

“Ultimately we want to see businesses thriving again. Through the Council’s wider services we have facilitated grant funding, provided rent assistance and extended outdoor seating arrangements.

“Our Forever Edinburgh campaign has also recently launched its Resident Rewards scheme which we hope will encourage people to shop locally, and support our small businesses.”

Councillor Mandy Watt, Fair Work Vice Convener, said: “This new programme adds another opportunity for small business leaders, this time in the retail sector, to come together and get up-to-date guidance and skills training to help them succeed in what are very difficult times.

“This adds to Business Gateway Edinburgh’s wider offering, including Women in Business and Gateway to Investment, and the ongoing one-to-one and on-call support offered by the team.

“We also hope that through this programme, as we’ve experienced with others, the business owners involved will build their own networks, benefit from each others experiences, and continue a new peer-to-peer support after the course is finished.”

To apply please speak to your Business Gateway Adviser for an application form or email: bglothian@bgateway.com

£21 million for culture and events

Additional funds for organisations and freelancers

A £21 million support package to support cultural and events organisations and freelancers experiencing cancellations due to the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant has been announced.

This is to help manage the significant impact of the new guidelines around social distancing and the limitations on the number of people who can attend events.

The £21 million is from the £100 million package announced by the Scottish Government last week to compensate businesses affected by events cancellations and includes an additional £1 million from existing events sector funds.

The funds will be allocated as follows:

  • £10.2 million for cultural organisations and venues to be administered by Creative Scotland
  • £2.8 million towards the wider events supply chain to be administered by EventScotland.
  • £8 million for the Cancellation Fund for Creative Freelancers to be administered by Creative Scotland.

Creative freelancers can apply for between £500 and £2,000 from the cancellation fund which opens at 2pm on Thursday, 6 January 2022.

Details on who is eligible for the fund and how to apply will be available on Creative Scotland’s website this afternoon.

More information and guidelines on the other funds administered by Creative Scotland and EventScotland will be published in early January.

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Culture and events continue to be among the sectors hardest hit by COVID-19 as the emergence of a new variant is once again causing disruption and uncertainty.

“The steps we’re asking the public to take to minimise the spread of the virus are having a severe financial impact on the sector at a time when they were just beginning to recover from previous waves of the coronavirus.

“In the past few weeks, both myself and Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth have been speaking to freelancers and representatives from culture and events organisations to ensure they get immediate support to meet their needs.

“This £21 million in additional funding is vital to support culture and events organisations and protect the livelihoods of the people who work in the sector.”

Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “This additional emergency funding for Scotland’s culture sector is very welcome.   

“This afternoon, we’ll publish guidance about the first tranche for creative freelancers who’re experiencing immediate financial hardship due to the loss of income because of cancellations and deferrals caused by the pandemic. 

“Applications will open on Thursday 6 January, and will be followed by further details of how and when to apply for the emergency support for organisations. 

“The Covid-19 rollercoaster seems never ending but we will work hard with the sector to pull together again and overcome the challenges that this new wave of the pandemic presents to ensure we are able to gather in cultural spaces to enjoy Scotland’s rich, diverse and world-renowned art and creativity, and to celebrate all that they bring to our lives, in so many different ways.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events said: “The additional £2.8m in emergency funding for Scotland’s events sector is welcome news as it deals with the latest challenges presented by the Omicron variant.

“EventScotland will work with the Scottish Government and the Event Industry Advisory Group (EIAG) to determine the best way of distributing the funding to ensure we get support to those in need, and will share further details on this in the new year. We will also work with them to look at future funding programmes to ensure the industry can return and rebuild when the time is right.” 

Morrisons gives customers free wonky Carrots for Rudolph

To help customers with Christmas Eve tradition of leaving carrots out for reindeer

Morrisons is giving away 10,000 wonky British carrots to customers who want to leave out refreshments for Father Christmas and his reindeer on Christmas Eve. 

The wonky carrots – which are oversized, misshapen and scarred, but still taste delicious – will be handed out in bags labelled ‘Carrots for Rudolph’ from the entrances of our 498 Morrisons stores across the UK from Wednesday 22nd December. 

The move aims to introduce children to wonky veg and encourage families to buy large, misshapen or slightly scarred carrots. During the festive period, our carrot sales soar, from a typical 500k bags-a-week in Morrisons to over 1.4 million in Christmas week, although wonky carrots only account for between 10% to 15% percent of sales.  

Andy Todd, Carrot Buyer at Morrisons said: “Leaving out a carrot for Rudolph is a magical Christmas tradition and we want to make it easy for our customers to get involved. 

“At the same time, we want to highlight that wonky carrots are just as tasty as perfect-looking carrots and help support our farmers.”

As British farming’s single biggest customer, we chose to make farmers the heroes of our Christmas advert this year.  We wanted to thank them for all the work they do to help make Christmas so special – including growing and picking the carrots for both our festive lunch and for us to leave out for Rudolph. 

The tradition of leaving food and drink out for Father Christmas and his reindeer can be traced all the way back to ancient Norse mythology where children would leave out food for Sleipner, the eight-legged horse ridden by Norse God Odin, in the hope that he would stop by on his travels and leave gifts in return.

For more information, visit: www.morrisons.com . 

Early winter shutdown for SPFL

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has announced that the 29 December and 2/3 January cinch Premiership fixture rounds have been postponed to 17/18 January and 1/2 February respectively.

The Boxing Day cinch Premiership fixtures will go ahead as planned, including St Johnstone v Celtic, which is being broadcast live on Sky Sports.

cinch Championship, League 1 and League 2 clubs were consulted as to whether they wished to postpone fixtures in their divisions, but they did not wish to do so.

Neil Doncaster, SPFL Chief Executive, said: “We have had intense and positive discussions with all cinch SPFL clubs over the past 24 hours, since the announcement by the Scottish Government of a three-week period of restrictions on fans attending matches. We have advised our clubs that any postponements increase the risk of further disruption to an already highly congested fixture calendar.

“There are mixed views amongst cinch Premiership clubs about what to do for the best. However, a majority favour the postponement of fixtures to give a chance for games scheduled to be played over the festive period to be played in front of fans, once the three-week period of restrictions comes to an end. The SPFL Board has agreed to postpone the 29 December and New Year cinch Premiership fixture cards.

“cinch Championship, League 1 and League 2 clubs voted to continue playing through the Government restrictions and we look forward to their festive fixtures over the next fortnight.

“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Sky Sports and Police Scotland for their flexibility in accommodating these changes and to all cinch SPFL clubs for their clear, positive and constructive feedback as we work together to get through the challenges posed by Covid-19.

The cinch Premiership fixtures scheduled for 29 December will move as follows:

Monday 17 January
Celtic v Hibernian (7.45pm)

Tuesday 18 January
Aberdeen v Rangers (Sky Sports, 7.45pm)
Dundee United v St Mirren (7.45pm)
Heart of Midlothian v St Johnstone (7.45pm)
Livingston v Dundee (7.45pm)
Ross County v Motherwell (7.45pm)

The cinch Premiership fixtures scheduled for 2/3 January will move as follows:

Tuesday 1 February
Dundee v Dundee United (7.45pm)
Hibernian v Heart of Midlothian (Sky Sports, 7.45pm)
Livingston v St Johnstone (7.45pm)
Ross County v Aberdeen (7.45pm)
St Mirren v Motherwell (7.45pm)

Wednesday 2 February
Celtic v Rangers (Sky Sports, 7.45pm)

Note
The Celtic v Hibernian match has been scheduled for Monday 17 January due to the Hibernian v Cove Rangers Scottish Cup tie on Thursday 20 January.

Hundreds of Big-Hearted football fans deliver Christmas cheer

The Hearts Women Team supporting Big Hearts’ Gift Back initiative: Clare Williamson & Addie Handley.

This Christmas, hundreds of families in Edinburgh and the Lothians will receive Christmas essentials thanks to the incredible efforts from 274 award-winning Big Hearts Supporters linked to Heart of Midlothian’s charity.

For this second Christmas of the pandemic, Big Hearts Community Trust is going on the road to bring some festive cheer directly to people’s homes. The official charity of Heart of Midlothian FC, based at Tynecastle Park, is focusing on providing practical support to various groups referred by the local schools, social workers and partner charities. 

Earlier this month, Big Hearts revealed that the number of referrals had doubled since 2020. A call for Hearts fans to become Big Hearts Supporters enabled the charity to meet the demand. 

No less than 274 individuals have come forward to help, by volunteering in their own time or at the Stadium, making Big Hearts’ festive activity the biggest to date. A total of 400 pre-cooked Christmas dinners, 500 bags of tailored presents and 100 food parcels will be distributed in time for Christmas Day. 

Hearts fans volunteering at the Stadium to wrap up and prepare Christmas gifts deliveries

Andrew McKinlay, Big Hearts Trustee and Chief Executive of Heart of Midlothian FC said: “The festive holidays can be a challenging time for many. Throughout the pandemic, football has remained a force for good and it’s heart-warming to see a record number of Hearts fans joining Big Hearts, the charity operating from Tynecastle Park, to help provide much needed support across the community this Christmas.

“They are a credit to our Club, and our shared family and community values. A big thank you to all involved, your kindness doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Hearts Players visit Broomhouse foodbank. L- R: Taylor Moore, Craig Gordon, Alex Cochrane & Beni Baningime.

Craig Wilson, General Manager at Big Hearts Community Trust said: “Our priority this Christmas is ensuring families can enjoy a fresh Christmas dinner from the comfort and safety of their home and receive presents to open on Christmas morning.

“The fact that our charity saw a 100% increase in requests for support this year just shows how many more individuals are struggling over the festive season – with some facing poverty or loneliness for the very first time.

Big Hearts Christmas Hampers distributed to isolated older people in partnership with the SPFL Trust.

“Alongside our dedicated staff team, Big Hearts Volunteers are playing a vital role in supporting the 500 adults and children on our list. Our award-winning Big Hearts Supporters Movement was designed to do just that: use the incredible power of football to join forces and help others in need.

“We are incredibly grateful to all who decided to sign up and donate their time and skills to make a difference. Thank you.”

Get Boosted Now: UK hits thirty million boosters as push continues

  • A record-breaking week for daily vaccinations with a rolling average of nearly 1 million top-up jabs in arms a day
  • New vaccine sites have opened across the country making it easier than ever to get vital protection from Omicron

More than 30 million people, over 56% of adults in the UK, have now had their COVID-19 booster during a record-breaking week for top-up jabs.

Yesterday saw a record number of daily vaccines administered, with a total of 1.06 million first, second and third jabs in arms. Of those, 968,665 were boosters as another daily record has been broken for UK top up jabs.

The expansion of the booster programme continues at rapid pace, with all eligible adults aged over 18 able to get their lifesaving jab by booking online through the National Booking Service, or by visiting their nearest walk-in vaccination centre. This week more vaccination sites have popped-up across the country making it as easy as possible to Get Boosted Now, including football stadiums and shopping centres.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: We’re continuing to smash booster and vaccine records – with 30 million total boosters in the UK and more than 1 million total vaccines on one day being an absolutely fantastic achievement.

“I am so grateful to people up and down the country for rolling up their sleeves to secure vital protection for themselves and their loved ones against Omicron this winter.

“Every top-up jab in someone’s arm means that as a country we are strengthening our wall of defence against the Omicron variant. Let me be absolutely clear – this festive season, the single most important thing you can do is come forward for your lifesaving booster jab.

“I am urging you – please, keep coming forward to Get Boosted Now.

Yesterday also saw new guidance issued in England which will enable the 10-day self-isolation period for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to be reduced to 7 days in most cases.

Studies also demonstrate that LFD tests are just as sensitive at detecting the Omicron variant, as they are for Delta.

Vaccines Minister Maggie Throup said: “I am absolutely overwhelmed by the public’s response to our national mission for everyone to Get Boosted Now. Today’s milestone of 30 million boosters is a phenomenal achievement and a true representation of the community spirit we share here in the UK.

“In the race between vaccine and virus, it is thanks to the work of our wonderful NHS that we are able to stay ahead and protect ourselves and our loved ones.

“Everyone can play their part. Please – keep coming forward for your lifesaving booster jab. It has never been easier, as you can book an appointment via the National Booking Service or choose to queue up at one of our vaccination centres around the country.

Dr Emily Lawson, head of the NHS vaccination programme, said: “Our NHS staff have pulled out all the stops, aided by our fantastic volunteers, to accelerate the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Programme ahead of Christmas and we have now administered more than 30 million doses across the UK, including 26 million in England alone.

“Being asked to accelerate the booster programme, the NHS has delivered lifesaving covid vaccines at an unprecedented rate, breaking daily and weekly records, and I would urge anyone yet to book in for their vital top-up dose to do so at the earliest opportunity – there are plenty of appointments available and it is the best way to guarantee protection for you and your loved ones this winter.”

There is further positive news as more cutting-edge antiviral treatments for COVID-19 have been secured for NHS patients as the UK Government signs two new contracts to help tackle Omicron.

The significant new deals have been accelerated following the emergence of the Omicron variant, to protect vulnerable people over the coming months. The move will help reduce hospitalisations and therefore ease pressures on the NHS.

While the government was quick to herald reaching the latest milestone, yesterday saw another siginificant milestone – and a distinctly unwelcome one. Daily Covid-19 cases in the UK exceeded 100,000 for first time.