NHS England strikes private hospitals deal to fight Omicron surge
This article, along with tennis tales from down under, makes me wonder what we might learn from a map showing the rural/urban split in terms of the incidence of people who haven’t had the vaccine…..
Hospitals in England will be able to use private hospitals and staff under a deal with the NHS to maintain services as Omicron cases surge, avoiding delays in treatment for patients with illnesses such as cancer.
The move comes as hospitals have also been told to find extra beds in gyms and education centres owing to rising numbers of Covid patients.
The three-month agreement means private healthcare staff and facilities will be on standby to support the NHS if required and to maintain services for patients who can be referred, including some of those waiting for cancer surgery.
Nightingale hubs are being created in the grounds of some hospitals as part of a move to create up to 4,000 extra beds.