Some 200 soldiers will be deployed to hospitals in London in support of the British public health service (NHS), faced with growing absenteeism and an increase in hospitalizations due to Covid-19, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday (January 7th). Defense.
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The deployment includes 40 military doctors and 160 auxiliary personnel who are expected to be at work over the next three weeks to make up for the absence of healthcare workers infected with the virus in the British capital, which has been the epicenter of the new wave contamination due to the Omicron variant. Defense Minister Ben Wallace praised the military's contribution to the "
national effort
", stressing that they had already driven ambulances, administered vaccines or supported patients in hospital since the start of the pandemic. Around 1,800 soldiers are already deployed across the United Kingdom, notably in support of the vaccination effort and ambulance services.
According to the latest official figures released Thursday, nearly 18,000 people - 50% more in a week and a higher since February - were hospitalized with Covid-19.
The country is one of the hardest hit in Europe with almost 150,000 deaths and contaminations at record levels, nearly 200,000 daily.
However, the number of ventilator patients (875) and deaths is increasing significantly less than in previous waves, prompting the government for now not to tighten restrictions in England.
Read alsoIn England, absences due to Covid-19 double in a month in hospital
Adding to the pressure, the hospital system is faced with absent staff by the thousands, at levels "
never seen
before", Dr Chaand Nagpaul, president of the British Medical Association (BMA) told Sky News.
For Matthew Taylor, director of the Confederation of the NHS, bringing together public health professionals, the deployment of 200 soldiers will "
help
", but the situation will continue to be "
very difficult
".
