In England, the number of staff on sick leave has doubled in a month in hospital. A worrying figure given the increase in people hospitalized. The pressure is increasing on hospitals.
With our correspondent in London, Marie Boëda
This is the big challenge today. The next few weeks are going to be ” difficult “For hospital services, warns the English public hospital.
First, because of staff absences: 24,000 caregivers stopped on Boxing Day against 11,000 a month ago. Non-urgent care is already no longer covered.
And to this is added an increase in patients linked to the Omicron wave. Some 11,000 people are hospitalized, an increase of 61% from last week.
Two reassuring points, however: 154 deaths have just been recorded, a low figure if we compare it to the 700 deaths per day a year ago.
And the number of patients requiring intensive care remains stable. But according to the association of British doctors, we must react quickly.
She calls on the government to reintroduce restrictions, such as the cancellation of large gatherings and the ban on mixing between different households.
For the Minister of Health, these restrictions on freedoms will be taken ” last resort “. The measures to combat Omicron in England are among the least restrictive in Europe.
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