The numbers to watch: Javid’s slightly Panglossian view of the current state of the NHS also raised eyebrows, as he insisted the pressures on the health service were not “unsustainable” despite the alarms being sounded by senior doctors and NHS figures. The key statistic that Downing Street is assessing each day is hospitalizations. The Health Service Journal’s Alastair McLellan reeled off the latest worrying numbers across England: Hospitalizations in the South East are up 39 percent in a week, East and South West up 32 percent, North West and Midlands up 16 percent, North East and Yorkshire up 16 percent, London up 15 percent. In numbers terms, there are currently around 8,000 people in hospital with COVID, with around 850 on ventilators.
Who’s to blame? One government official
Last night pointed the finger at new NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard, suggesting it was the. NHS that was to blame for the slow pace of the booster rollout, rather than ministers. Alternatively, an NHS insider insisted they had phone number library the capacity and logistical ability to deliver the jabs, but people simply weren’t coming forward to get them. Implying government messaging was the problem and that No. 10 and the Cabinet Office had been distracted by other events like COP26 and the supply crisis.
What would Keir do?
The Labour leadership is also so far stopping short of calling for a Plan B to be implemented. Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth told the BBC’s World at One yesterday. There’s calls for Plan B but the question is why is Plan A appearing manage social media accounts to fail. Other Labour figures are going harder. Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford told ITV’s Peston. I hope the prime minister. Will move to Plan B, it will certainly help us here in Wales to have a consistent message across the border — mask wearing in. Crowded indoor places or on public transport in. Wales, it’s a must — it’s not a request, it’s mandatory.”
What would Tony do?
Tony Blair’s think tank has a report out today setting out an actual alternative facebook users plan. for: A booster target of 500,000 jabs a day, vaccinating half of 12- to 15-year-olds by the start of December, prioritizing approval for jabbing under-12s, bringing back mandatory mask-wearing, and “urgently” looking at COVID certification. The Mail’s Dan Martin has a write-up.