After at least 24 UK hospital trusts declared critical incidents due to staffing shortages that threaten to compromise their ability to provide priority services and care for patients, British military medics have been tasked with aiding the NHS.
More than 200 military personnel were confirmed for deployment for the next three weeks by the Ministry of Defense on Friday. Their task will be to fill gaps caused by absent staff forced to self-isolate due to COVID infection or as a preventive measure after coming in into contact with a positive case.
Considering the fact that the city has been hit particularly hard by the Omicron outbreak, most of the force will be stationed in London hospitals that are pushing medical services beyond their limits.
Meanwhile, two major incidents have been declared in England – in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent – prompting multiple agencies including the NHS, Fire and Rescue Service, police, and local authorities to step up their response.
Another system-wide major incident was declared in Northamptonshire where hospitals, care homes, and emergency services were affected by the shortage of staff and increased demand because of COVID has also declared an emergency.
According to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) statement addressing the British government, NHS can no longer deny it is facing a staffing crisis.
On top of the military medics in hospitals, the British army will provide aid to the South Central Ambulance Service, sending 32 co-responders to stay there until the end of March.
RCN’s England director Patricia Marquis said that the government can no longer be dismissive of questions about the NHS staff’s ability to deliver safe care in a situation when, according to reports, relatives were forced to drive to the hospital some patients suffering suspected strokes or heart attacks due to long wait times for ambulances.
Yet, despite the decision to draft in the army and the ongoing concerns about the pressure NHS is facing, UK business minister Paul Scully claimed on Friday that they still see no need for further COVID restrictions to deal with the emerging wave of Omicron cases.
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