Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Covid: 5,000 NHS staff could lose their jobs if not vaccinated

Covid: 5,000 NHS staff could lose their jobs if not vaccinated

NEARLY 5,000 NHS staff in East London could lose their jobs if they do not get the coronavirus vaccine.

The government announced on November 9 that all frontline NHS staff would be required to get both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, or risk losing their jobs.


Barts Health NHS trust, which runs five London hospitals, has one of the lowest rates of vaccinated staff in the capital.

The vast majority of staff at Barts Health have been vaccinated – 84.6 per cent of the 24,516 workforce have had one dose, while 79.7 have had both jabs, according to NHS figures.

However, this is a much lower rate than many other NHS trusts in London – for example, 85 per cent of the staff at the Central and North London Trust have had both doses.

At Barts Health 4,981 staff have not had both doses and 3,772 have not had either.

Between 80,000 and 100,000 NHS staff in England have not been vaccinated, according to the BBC.

The government is expected to make April 1 the deadline for NHS workers to get vaccinated, and those unvaccinated by then will not be able to work on the health service’s front lines.

Health secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that after a consultation, the decision was necessary to limit the spread of coronavirus.

He said: “We must avoid preventable harm and protect patients in the NHS, protect colleagues in the NHS and, of course, protect the NHS itself.”

Covid cases at Barts Health rose quickly in October, and as of November 9 there were 117 patients in the trust’s wards with Covid-19.

Of these, 32 were being treated in intensive care or with enhanced oxygen.

An ICU doctor at Barts Health told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the vast majority of patients being admitted to intensive care had not been vaccinated and urged everyone eligible to get the jab.

Barts Health runs St Bartholomew’s Hospital, The Royal London Hospital, Mile End Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital and Newham Hospital.

The five hospitals treat around 1.3 million patients a year, according to the trust’s figures.

A spokesperson for Barts Health said: “Trust is committed to working with its staff to increase our vaccination uptake.

“Our core vaccination team have now been established in four hospital hubs, who are working alongside our teams to increase uptake for Covid-19 and also winter flu jabs.”

(Local Democracy Reporting Service)

More For You

 electricity-pylons-iStock

From 2026, households within 500 metres of new or upgraded electricity infrastructure will receive bill reductions of up to £2,500 over 10 years. (Representational image: iStock)

Residents near new electricity pylons to get bill reductions

THE GOVERNMENT announced on Monday that households living near new electricity pylons will receive discounts on their energy bills.

The move is part of efforts to expand electricity infrastructure, despite opposition to large-scale projects needed to connect renewable energy to the grid.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump

Speaking from the Oval Office on Friday, Trump had said the US has been economically and financially 'ripped off' by several countries, including India. (Photo: Getty Images)

India denies pledge to lower tariffs following Trump’s statement

INDIA has said it has not committed to reducing import duties on US goods, following US president Donald Trump’s claim that New Delhi had agreed to "cut their tariffs way down."

Trump, in the early weeks of his second term, has taken a tough stance on global trade, imposing tariffs on several countries, including India, and accusing trading partners of unfair practices.

Keep ReadingShow less
most polluted cities

India, home to six of the world’s 10 most polluted cities, saw a 7% reduction in air pollution between 2023 and 2024

iStock

Only 7 countries meet WHO air quality guidelines, UK falls short


Air pollution is a silent killer, claiming millions of lives annually and leaving nearly every corner of the globe gasping for clean air. According to the latest annual report by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, only seven countries worldwide met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for safe levels of PM2.5 pollution in 2024. These countries- Australia, New Zealand, Estonia, Iceland, and a handful of small island states- stand as rare exceptions in a world where dirty air has become the norm.

Keep ReadingShow less
London-ULEZ-iStock

Signs indicating Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on a street in London. (Photo: iStock)

London ULEZ expansion cuts pollution, increases compliance

LONDON’s air quality has improved following the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across all 33 boroughs in August 2023.

The ULEZ requires vehicles that do not meet specific emission standards to pay a daily charge of £12.50. The scheme aims to tackle air pollution, climate change, and congestion.

Keep ReadingShow less
NHS England to Restructure: Workforce to Be Reduced by 50%

The changes aim to cut costs and eliminate duplication with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). (Representational image: Getty)

Getty Images

NHS England to cut workforce by half in major restructuring

NHS ENGLAND will reduce its workforce from 13,000 to about 6,500 as part of a restructuring led by Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

The changes aim to cut costs and eliminate duplication with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), The Guardian reported.

Keep ReadingShow less