One in four NHS doctors are off work sick or in self-isolation, the head of the Royal College of Physicians has said. A leading expert has also revealed there were signs of a slowdown in Covid-19 hospital admissions.
Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the RCP, said that about 25% of the doctor workforce is off, either with coronavirus or because a family member or housemate is ill. "At the moment, we think it's more doctors self-isolating with family members, though there are some off sick themselves," he said. "This is really impacting a lot in emergency departments and London is in a much worse position than elsewhere at the moment, but it will come to other places. "Birmingham is also struggling." Prof Goddard said hospital wards