Coventry & Warwickshire COVID-19 Portal

•Cancer patients face rationing of crucial treatmentThe Daily Telegraph, 23/03/2020, p.8, Henry Bodkin and Paul Nuki •Health service staff crowded out at tillsThe Times, 23/03/2020, p.9, Katie Gibbons Tesco announced a shopping hour on Sunday mornings for NHS staff working around the clock during the coronavirus pandemic and unable to get basic items due to panic buying. However, on its launch yesterday the scheme resulted in 600-metre long queues at some stores as hundreds of non-NHS workers posed as health staff to try to gain early access. A Tesco spokesman said: "The priority hour is a way to support NHS workers get access to the things they need and to say thank you for all they are doing. We're going to take learnings from today and continue to offer these priority shopping times to NHS workers. We need customers to help us by giving NHS workers priority during this hour and so we ask all other customers to shop during the usual Sunday opening hours."•Shoppers ignore rules to crowd out health workersThe Times, 23/03/2020, p.8, Katie Gibbons NHS workers blocked from shops during 'golden hours'i (The paper for today), 23/03/2020, p.5, Cahal Milmo NHS shopping shamblesDaily Mail, 23/03/2020, p.12, Chris Brooke Picture that shames Britain: Hero ambulance worker shunted to back of supermarket queue by panic buyersDaily Express, 23/03/2020, p.6, Liz Perkins Shelfish idiotsThe Sun, 23/03/2020, p.10, Patrick Gysin Stores should deliver to hospitals for NHS heroesDaily Star, 23/03/2020, p.25, Unattributed Fury as shoppers try to barge Tesco NHS queueMetro, 23/03/2020, p.4, Unattributed Online shopper ban to thwart panic buying/Closing the doors - McDonald's shuts downThe Daily Telegraph, 23/03/2020, p.11, Hayley Dixon NHS paramedic evicted by 'super nervous' landlordThe Guardian, 23/03/2020, p.18, Hannah Mays A paramedic for South Western Ambulance Service has been evicted from his home because his landlady was concerned that he could spread Covid-19 at the property, amid growing concerns that medical professionals are being stigmatised because of their contact with the virus. Sarah-Jane Marsh, CEO of Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said that "nurses have been evicted from shared accommodation because people don't want to live with them right now".Landlady evicts NHS paramedic over fears he will spread Covid-19Daily Mail, 23/03/2020, p.19, Claire Duffin MEDIC EVICTED BY SICK TEXT

Daily Star, 23/03/2020, p.6, Jack Andrews Tougher measures might be needed, Johnson warnsThe Independent Daily Edition, 23/03/2020, p.3, Andrew Woodcock Boris Johnson has said that "tougher measures" may have to be imposed to tighten social-distancing rules, amid widespread complaints that people were continuing to congregate in large numbers in shops, parks and outdoor markets, despite advice that avoiding social contacts is the best way to slow the spread of coronavirus and prevent it overwhelming the NHS. Meanwhile, NHS England announced that 37 people died from the virus in England yesterday, with one of the victims aged just 18. The NHS said that all those who died were from vulnerable groups, including those with underlying conditions. THIS CAN'T GO ON ..The Daily Mirror, 23/03/2020, p.4, Pippa Crerar Johnson faces pressure to order coronavirus lockdownITV.com (Web), 23/03/2020, Unattributed Protect NHS workers urgently, says HuntThe Times, 23/03/2020, p.8, Kat Lay Former health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said the NHS must ensure that doctors have proper protective equipment, after hospital staff claimed that they are still experiencing shortages, with nurses going to DIY shops to stock up or even refusing to work without the right equipment. Many have also raised concerns about whether Public Health England guidelines on personal protective equipment (PPE) offer sufficient protection. NHS chiefs have said that there are no problems with national stock levels of items such as masks, gowns and gloves and that local supply issues should have been resolved over the weekend.NHS staff feel like cannon fodder, warns senior medicThe Independent Daily Edition, 23/03/2020, p.8, Lizzy Buchan Dr Rinesh Parmar, chair of the Doctors' Association, said frontline NHS staff feel like "lambs to the slaughter" and are being treated as "cannon fodder" in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. His warning came as nearly 4,000 NHS workers appealed to the prime minister to "protect the lives of the life-savers" and resolve the "unacceptable" shortage of protective equipment. Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, said the government was working "round the clock" to ensure NHS staff had the right equipment, adding: "Extra supplies are being supplied to hospitals. I think by this afternoon every hospital will have had the next set of supplies of PPE [personal protective equipment]."NHS alarm as 2 medics fight for lifeDaily Express, 23/03/2020, p.6, Giles Sheldrick FEAR ON FRONT LINEThe Daily Mirror, 23/03/2020, p.6, Pippa Crerar NHS staff are like lambs to the slaughterThe Sun, 23/03/2020, p.6, Isaac Crowson Covid-19: UK doctors are `deeply apprehensive'' about a surge in casesITV.com (Web), 23/03/2020, Unattributed Virus nurse aged 36 fights for her life in intensive care

Daily Mail, 23/03/2020, p.10, Arthur Martin A 36-year-old nurse who has no underlying health issues is critically ill in the intensive care unit at Walsall Manor hospital in the West Midlands where she works after being diagnosed with coronavirus. She is one of several NHS staff who are understood to have been placed on ventilators in hospitals after catching the disease. The news comes as NHS colleagues warned many more staff will fall ill - or even die - because of a chronic shortage of protective equipment.Stay at home and we'll make sure you are fed, 1.5m vulnerable people toldThe Daily Telegraph, 23/03/2020, p.4, Charles Hymas Robert Jenrick, the Communities Secretary, has announced that up to 1.5million of Britain's most vulnerable people - including those with conditions such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and heart disease, and pregnant women with heart conditions - will receive free food parcels as they are asked to shield themselves from coronavirus by staying at home for at least three months. Mr Jenrick said that people would receive letters or emails from the NHS in the next couple of days telling them that they should stay at home because of the risk of "severe illness" if they contract the virus.Worried about how Covid-19 will affect existing problems?The Daily Telegraph, 23/03/2020, p.26, Unattributed Youngest victim in UK dies aged 18 in hospitalThe Daily Telegraph, 23/03/2020, p.3, Hayley Dixon and Henry Bodkin It was announced that an 18-year-old with Covid-19 has become the youngest victim of the coronavirus sweeping the UK. The teenager was among the 37 people who died in England yesterday after testing positive for coronavirus. NHS England said that "all were in vulnerable groups including with underlying conditions" and their families had been informed.18-year-old is Britain's youngest virus victimDaily Mail, 23/03/2020, p.4, Victoria Allen Hospitals likened to war zones as doctors prepare to make grim decisionsThe Guardian, 23/03/2020, p.4, Haroon Siddique; Rajeev Syal; Sarah Marsh The British Medical Association has warned that NHS hospitals are in urgent need of ventilators and approaching full capacity because of the Covid-19 outbreak. On Saturday, NHS England announced a deal with private hospitals that would give the health service access to more ventilators, beds and an extra 20,000 qualified staff.So, does NHS really have enough ventilators?Daily Mail, 23/03/2020, p.11, Arthur Martin NHS staff have expressed concern that the current number of ventilators are not enough to cope with the coronavirus outbreak. They have received a welcome boost from four Formula One teams Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull and Williams who are helping with the production of 20,000 of the devices.NHS workers threaten walkout over pay disputeThe Daily Telegraph, 23/03/2020, p.3, Vinjeru Mkandawire Around 70 NHS workers on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic at the University Hospital Lewisham and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital have threatened to walk out after being hit with emergency taxes amid a pay dispute with Danish outsourcer ISS. Red tape and fees thwart foreign nurses' effortsi (The paper for today), 23/03/2020, p.11, Hugo Gye 

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has started an emergency recruitment drive to draw retired medics back into the NHS in order to cope with the coronavirus epidemic. However, the Government is being urged to start actively recruiting foreign-trained medical staff living in the UK, and to waive the registration fee charged by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. A source from NHS England said the service was currently focusing on bringing back retired staff rather than recruiting medics trained abroad.Second MP returns to NHS to help coronavirus efforti (The paper for today), 23/03/2020, p.4, Isabella Cipirska The MP for Wrexham and former district nurse, Sarah Atherton, has announced that she has signed up to join the Covid-19 temporary register launched by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The council has written to 50,000 nurses and midwives who have left the permanent register within the past three years asking them to help tackle what NHS England has called "the greatest global health threat in a century". The General Medical Council has written to a further 15,500 doctors. According to Matt Hancock, the Health and Social Care Secretary, within the first 48 hours of the callout, 4,000 nurses and 500 doctors had signed up to return to the NHS. "Brilliant support in our national effort tackling coronavirus," he commented.Ex-nurse Maria's a shot in the arm for our NHSDaily Express, 23/03/2020, p.43, Unattributed Letter: "I read the Conservative MP for Lewes, Maria Caulfield, is returning to work night shifts and weekends during the Parliamentary recess, in her previous job as a nurse ("NHS plea for ex-docs", March 20). An excellent gesture, Maria. So heartening to have people of this calibre. I hope your constituents in Lewes remember this when the next election comes around."Private firms profit from diagnosis kitsThe Times, 23/03/2020, p.10, Katie Gibbons; Billy Kenber Public Health England is currently only conducting Covid-19 tests on patients already being treated in hospitals; leaving a huge demand for private testing. The private sector is profiting from this; offering tests for hundreds of pounds. Pharmacists have warned of people trying to buy-up stocks of two antimalarial drugs touted by President Trump as possible treatments for Covid-19.Millions of instant immunity tests promised within weeksThe Times, 23/03/2020, p.10, Kat Lay The government has ordered millions of tests that will show if a person has been infected with Covid-19, with stocks to be available within weeks, housing and communities secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC. Public Health England is working to produce its own test and the government is evaluating those produced overseas. Boris Johnson said last week that a test that could identify the antibodies produced in response to coronavirus would be a "game changer".BLOOD donations [...]Daily Express, 23/03/2020, p.10, Unattributed NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) officials have called for more people to come forward, after donations dipped by 15 per cent as concerns grow around coronavirus. The NHSBT said it will need donors "more than ever" over the coming weeks and months. BLOOD donations have dipped [...]The Daily Express (London), 23/03/2020, p.10, Unattributed 

Donors are urged to keep giving blood after 15% dropThe Independent Daily Edition, 23/03/2020, p.9, Ella Pickover Blood donations down 15% amid coronavirus fearsITV.com (Web), 23/03/2020, Unattributed ''Keep donating blood'', says London patient as donations dip by 15%ITV.com (Web), 22/03/2020, Unattributed Health officials have issued a rallying call to blood donors after donations dipped by 15% as concerns grow around the coronavirus pandemic. NHS Blood and Transplant said that donations slumped over the last week but the impact has been mitigated by the cancellation of a number of pre-planned procedures in the NHS.Harry and Meghan to salute NHS staffThe Sun, 23/03/2020, p.9, Patrick Gysin The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have backed the Clap For Our Carers campaign, which wants millions of Britons to stand on their doorsteps at 8pm on Thursday and applaud NHS staff for their service during the coronavirus crisis. Royals in NHS rallyThe Sun, 23/03/2020, p.9, Unattributed Applause for NHS staff A [...]The Times, 23/03/2020, p.13, Unattributed Darting to the rescueThe Sun, 23/03/2020, p.45, Phil Lanning Darts player Keegan Brown has taken on extra shifts as an NHS employee at his Carisbrooke base on the Isle of Wight to help fight the Covid-19 virus.Chester to provide free meals for NHS staffRacing Post, 23/03/2020, p.7, Andrew Dietz From Wednesday, NHS and emergency services workers will be able to pick up complimentary frozen meals to take home from Chester racecourse between 9am-9pm daily on production of their staff ID.If football has a conscience it won't hurry backThe Times, 23/03/2020, p.58, Unattributed Henry Winter writes: "The thought of removing even one ambulance, one paramedic, from the hardpressed NHS by rushing football back for the cameras, staging matches behind closed doors, would be a shame the game would take a long, long time to live down."From work to education to politics, nothing will be the same againThe Daily Telegraph, 23/03/2020, p.22, Nick Timothy Nick Timothy, author of 'Remaking One Nation: The Future of Conservatism', writes that the "experience of coronavirus might inspire us to build something better...and support national institutions like the BBC and NHS".Covid-19's ill wind will eventually bring some goodDaily Express, 23/03/2020, p.12, Leo Mckinstry Leo McKinstry writes that "even when coronavirus is beaten and the economy starts to recover again, there will be a powerful legacy of greater support of the NHS and other public services. The idea that the NHS can limp along, underfunded and overstretched, will no longer be tolerable. " 

How to cope if you come down with the virusThe Daily Mirror, 23/03/2020, p.12, Unattributed A feature offering a practical guide to the coronavirus, based on the latest advice from the NHS and the World Health Organisation.ONE self-isolating weekend down loads [...]The Daily Mirror, 23/03/2020, p.34, Siobhanmcnally The columnist writes that while we are quick to praise the NHS and care staff at the front line of the coronavirus crisis, "let's not forget to big-up people like Abdul, a street cleaner with Hackney Council in East London, who risk their health every day just doing their job".Give NHS staff what they needThe Daily Mirror, 23/03/2020, p.45, Fiona Parker Letter: "After 10 years of chronic underfunding of our NHS and severe staff shortages, in part caused by health and care workers from the EU returning homebecause of Brexit, the Government is trying to suppress the spread of the virus in an attempt to prevent a complete collapse of the service. It is my belief that we will only beat this with a coherent approach and community spirit."THE NHS has been undervalued [...]The Sun, 23/03/2020, p.9, Unattributed Letter: "NHS has been undervalued for too long. We cannot get through this without the selfless attitude of our NHS staff. Thank you to each and every one of you engaged in this battle."ACTIONS TAKEN •Monitoring latest updates from Public Health England and GOV.UK •Social media monitoring for local areas, local hospitals and retweeting PHE, NHS messages on Coronavirus advice•Content for websites, press releases and social media content prepared for ‘shielding’ is being prepared MEDIA ENQUIRIES•None STATEMENTS ISSUED•None Engagement, Communications and Marketing TeamNHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit