17.04.20
NHS Providers welcome lockdown extension to help flatten the curve
As Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab extended the UK lockdown due to coronavirus for another three weeks, NHS Providers have welcomed the move, aimed at flattening the peak of the virus infection rate and assisting the NHS in managing the outbreak.
Referring to Mr Raab’s announcement as “clear instruction”, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, explained that the evidence was showing that current measures to stay indoors was making a difference.
They did however stress the need to help further support social care settings, where transmission rates appeared to be rising, despite a general fall across the community.
Ms Cordery said: “We welcome the clear instruction by the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today to continue to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.
“We also welcome the outlining of points that will influence the government’s decision on relaxing measures in the future.
“The evidence suggests that current measures to stay indoors are working with the rate of people occupying a hospital bed beginning to flatten, and it is welcome that there are early signs that the infection rate in the community is decreasing.
“However, it is discouraging that transmission rates in social care settings may be increasing. Now more than ever, trusts need to know that they can safely discharge patients in the knowledge that they will receive the ongoing care they need.
“So the public must continue to help the health and care system by staying at home unless necessary, but it is vital that those patients who need it still access emergency care.”