A NATIONAL health association says Covid absence figures show pressure on the NHS in England becoming unsustainable.

Data published yesterday showed 24,632 staff were absent through Covid-19 sickness or self-isolation at acute NHS hospital trusts in England on Boxing Day.

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Responding to the data, Dr Chaand Nagpaul council chair at the British Medical Association, said: “These statistics show the BMA’s repeated warnings about the impact of Omicron on the NHS workforce being realised.

"Not only are doctors incredibly worried about the rising number of people in hospital with Covid-19 – now at the highest level since early March – but also the health service’s ability to provide vital care to all patients, with more than 24,000 staff now off sick with Covid or self-isolating.

"That’s the equivalent of 178 staff off work at each acute trust in England."

The BMA is calling for a host of restrictions to come back into force such as limits to social mixing and reducing contacts between households; cancellation of large social gatherings; and reintroduction of social distancing.

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Dr Nagpaul added: “The BMA is clear that further public health measures are needed urgently to prevent the health service being completely overwhelmed, and today’s figures are further evidence why this is needed now.”

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