Scotland records another two coronavirus deaths
Scotland has recorded a further two coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours, Scottish Government figures show.
NHS
Doctors’ leader warns of ‘massive levels of burnout’ in NHS after Covid-19
The health service risks having a “massive level of burnouts” in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis, unless additional care is given to the “very fragile” mental health of staff, a leading doctor has warned.
Scotland records another 44 coronavirus deaths
Scotland has recorded a further 44 coronavirus deaths in the space of 24 hours, Scottish Government figures show.
Three deaths in Aberdeen as 50 new positive Covid-19 cases recorded in north-east in past 24 hours
Three Aberdeen residents are among the 44 deaths recorded by the Scottish Government in the latest daily coronavirus figures.
The NHS and care workers who have died during the coronavirus pandemic
At least 202 frontline health and care workers have been identified after dying with coronavirus.
969 new positive Covid-19 cases recorded in past 24 hours, with 73 in north-east
A further 73 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the north-east in the past 24 hours.
74 new coronavirus cases in the north-east as Scottish total rises by 1,225
A further 74 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the north-east in the past 24 hours.
Extra funding for NHS to help tackle backlog welcomed
The Government has pledged more money to “get our country through coronavirus”.
NHS Grampian reports spike in Covid-19 with 122 new cases and one more death reported in past 24 hours
A further 122 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the north-east in the past 24 hours.
Contracts designed to top-up PPE stockpile ‘didn’t work’, says expert
Supply contracts designed to top-up the country’s stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) failed at the start of the coronavirus crisis, according to a procurement expert.
UK spent £10bn extra in inflated PPE prices due to ‘inadequate’ stockpile – NAO
The UK spent £10 billion extra in inflated prices for pandemic-battling personal protective equipment due to an “inadequate” stockpile and a surge in global demand, a report has concluded.
Relaxing coronavirus restrictions over Christmas ‘likely to lead to third wave’
A member of the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has warned the planned relaxation of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas could lead to a third wave of the pandemic.
More than 100,000 Scots waiting for key NHS tests to be carried out
More than 100,000 Scots are now waiting for key diagnostic tests to be carried out by the NHS.
771 new positive Covid-19 cases recorded in past 24 hours, with 49 in north-east
A further 49 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the north-east in the past 24 hours, with a total of 771 people across Scotland receiving positive results across the same timeframe.
Experiences of community mental health ‘consistently poor’, finds CQC survey
Experiences of community mental health services are consistently poor and the coronavirus pandemic will prompt a rise in people seeking help at crisis point, the care regulator has warned.
The NHS and care workers who have died during the coronavirus pandemic
At least 201 frontline health and care workers have been identified after dying with coronavirus.
‘Amazing’ nurse dies with Covid-19 after leaving Caribbean to join NHS
An “amazing” and “much-loved” nurse who moved to the UK from the Caribbean to work for the NHS has died after contracting coronavirus.
Rise in probable suicides prompts call to transform mental health services
A “serious expansion” of the number of dedicated mental health staff in the NHS is needed after a rise in probable suicides, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have said.
NHS could save millions after CMA reaches deal to keep bipolar drug in the UK
The NHS could potentially be saved millions of pounds after the competition watchdog reached a deal to prevent a vital medication for bipolar patients being withdrawn from the market.
Concerns over pupils being repeatedly sent home for Covid-related reasons
Pupils at some schools have been sent home on five occasions in recent months for Covid 19-related reasons, according to Labour.
Trial to ‘test close contacts every day for a week’
People who are in close contact with those who test positive for Covid-19 could soon be offered a test every day for a week to see whether they have coronavirus, the Prime Minister has said.
Target Covid spending waste not public sector pay, Dodds urges Chancellor
The Chancellor should “get a grip” on wasteful pandemic spending rather than freeze the pay of public sector workers, his Opposition counterpart has urged.
Sunak told not to ‘grind frontline workers down’ with public sector pay freeze
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been warned against imposing a public sector pay freeze on millions of workers to cover for his “irresponsible choices and unacceptable delays” in a move that could jeopardise the UK’s economic recovery.
At least £10 billion needed to clear treatment backlog in NHS, union warns
More than £10 billion in extra NHS funding is needed just to tackle the growing backlog in care caused by the pandemic, according to the British Medical Association.
Sunak says no return to austerity but hints at public sector pay freeze
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has suggested he could impose a public sector pay freeze in his spending review, but insisted the nation will not see a return to austerity next week.
Sunak to spend big, but warns high borrowing cannot go on ‘indefinitely’
Rishi Sunak is to outline a plan for vast spending to recover from the nation’s finances from the coronavirus crisis, but has warned high levels of borrowing cannot go on “indefinitely”.
Reluctance for Covid testing in hospital dangerous, says Scottish Greens
The Scottish Greens have said reluctance for regular Covid-19 testing in hospitals is “dangerous”.
Something has got to give: ICU nurse describes ‘constant strain’ of pandemic
The acute stress of the coronavirus pandemic has forced many NHS staff out of work, even prompting a suicide attempt, an intensive care nurse has said.
30,000 volunteers sought for vaccination programme
Thousands of volunteers are being sought to help deliver a Covid-19 vaccine across England once it gets approved.
Readers’ Letters: Test and Trace isn’t a contest
I heard our first minister defending the Scottish Test & Trace system yesterday. She seemed to compare our system with the English counterpart which, like ours, is not working to expectations.