NHS mounting an unprecedented response to tackling COVID-19

The deputy chief executive of NHS Providers Saffron Cordery said:

"The announcement that more than 9,000 patients are now being treated for COVID-19 in hospital brings into stark reality the challenge that staff across the NHS are rising to. 

"Trusts are working around the clock to ensure that they have the capacity to care for thousands of additional patients.

"In our daily dialogue with trust leaders we are hearing how staff across different medical and surgical specialities are rapidly updating their skills and undertaking training to ensure they can join the frontline teams caring for patients and many staff have quickly adapted to new shift patterns. 

"There are also 20,000 recently retired healthcare professionals offering to return to the NHS and student nurses, doctors and allied health professionals boosting the frontline.

Stay home message getting through

"It is very welcome news that there has been a dramatic fall in both public transport and car usage. It is clear that the message to 'stay home, protect the NHS, save lives' is getting through and we shouldn’t underestimate the difference this makes to staff on the frontline."