This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Non-urgent operations in England postponed
NHS England has said that all non-urgent operations in England will be postponed from 15 April to free up 30,000 beds to help tackle coronavirus.
On the same day that the government's chief scientific adviser said it would be a ‘good outcome’ if 20,000 or fewer people died of the virus in the UK, NHS England has said that the emergency policy will be in place for at least three months. It is hoped that postponing routine surgery will help to expand critical care capacity to the maximum.
The number of people who have died with the virus in the UK has reached 56. At least 1,950 people have tested positive for the virus in the UK.
This follows Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiling a set of new measures that include those with the most serious health conditions being ‘largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks’, by the coming weekend.
NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said postponing routine surgery would help to expand critical care capacity to the maximum, and reiterated that the health service is working with community services to 'unblock' discharge processes to bring back capacity for coronavirus patients.
Given Johnson's call to businesses thsi week about ventilator manufacturing, Stevens has said that the health system in England has about 7,000 ventilators and there are plans to increase this to 12,000.
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
