Government privately being urged by advisers to tell people to work from home as UK cases of variant hit 134UK ministers have been warned they cannot wait for new research on the Omicron variant and must act now to prevent a potentially “very significa…
Boris Johnson told: dump plan for social care charges or face Tory rebellion
MPs from north of England vent rage in emergency call with minister Gillian Keegan amid backbench fury at costs faced by less well-off pensionersSenior Conservatives on Saturday urged Boris Johnson to ditch plans that would see many of England’s poores…
Sickle cell disease inquiry finds ‘serious care failings’ in NHS
Report by cross-party MPs also finds evidence of attitudes underpinned by racismA groundbreaking inquiry into sickle cell disease has found “serious care failings” in acute services and evidence of attitudes underpinned by racism.The report by the all-…
NHS England staff should have Covid vaccine before winter, Hancock says
Former health secretary warns ministers against delaying mandatory jabs for health workersCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageNHS workers in England must be legally required to get Covid vaccinations before the winter, Matt Hanc…
Rishi Sunak to announce £500m package for families
Labour describes plan as ‘smokescreen for the Conservatives’ failure to deliver’ in the pastHundreds of thousands of families are to receive extra support as part of a £500m package from the government that will include the creation of a network of “fa…
Ignore the buzzwords, the Tories will inflict yet more damage on local services | Frances Ryan
Rishi Sunak will talk about ‘levelling up’, but desperate communities should prepare for more funding cutsWhen Rishi Sunak stands in front of the Commons for the spending review next week, the chancellor will no doubt serve up “build back better” buzzw…
Covid bereaved voice anguish at ‘ignored’ UK virus planning report
Families lament government’s failure to stock up on PPE and set up contact tracing as advised in 2016 exerciseCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageFamilies bereaved by Covid have expressed pain at revelations that a government ex…
Coronavirus report warned of impact on UK four years before pandemic
Exclusive: Report from planning exercise in 2016 alerted government of need to stockpile PPE and set up contact tracing systemCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSenior health officials who war-gamed the impact of a coronavirus …
Nurses in England to be balloted on possible strike action over pay
Royal College of Nursing says 92% of its members in England believe 3% pay offer is unacceptableThe prospect of nurses in England striking for the first time has drawn nearer after their union decided to ballot members on taking industrial action over …
Doctors, receptionists and practice teams quit after wave of hostility over GP appointments
Fears of mass exodus as abuse by patients skyrockets over blood tests, jabs and face-to-face consultationsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSenior doctors have warned that practice staff and GPs are quitting after an unprecede…