UK Covid-19 vaccinations: Latest figures
Hospitals across the country are already in crisis mode with more than a week to go before the end of lockdown restrictions exacerbates the surge in Covid cases.
The care regulator on Thursday said the summer crisis was causing “very real” challenges as demand increased significantly in emergency departments and hospital wards.
Data seen by The Independent shows thousands of patients are being kept on hold for at least two minutes before 999 calls are answered, while new figures show record numbers of trips to A&E last month.
But despite the concerns of NHS leaders, health secretary Sajid Javid said on Thursday that the timetable for ending lockdown would not be changed.
Meanwhile, the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has urged remote workers to return to the office. His call came as coronavirus cases exceeded 30,000 for the second consecutive day on Thursday. Mr Sunak said he wants as many people as possible to begin working in person when work-from-home guidance ends on 19 July.
