Responding to the confirmation that self-isolation will be removed for double jabbed close contacts from 16 August, the chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson, said:

"Trust leaders strongly welcome the changes to the rules on self isolation for double jabbed close contacts from Monday.

"Staffing levels remain a critical issue for trusts, and we know that there are large numbers of staff self-isolating. Whilst the changes announced to help the NHS in mid-July have had some effect, the impact has not been as great as predicted or hoped. Trust leaders hope this change will have a larger impact.

"But much more needs to be done to help the NHS deal with the enormous challenges it faces over the next nine months, as staff work flat out to bear down on a massive care backlog, press ahead with the next phase of the vaccination campaign, deal with likely further waves of COVID-19 and very high levels of urgent care demand, as well as the prospect of one of the worst winters on record.

"Already we have trust leaders, particularly in the ambulance sector, telling us that this is now the busiest it has ever been.

"The government needs to move quickly and provide the right funding for the rest of this year to equip an already stretched workforce to deliver the quality of care patients expect, and rightly deserve."