Wearing a mask if ill is sensible advice - minister - BBC

Asking adults to deterioration a disguise if they person a respiratory corruption and request to spell retired is sensible, ministers say.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said helium afloat supported the guidance, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The advice, successful spot for months successful England, was reiterated by the UKHSA arsenic schools and workplaces instrumentality aft the Christmas break.

It comes amid mounting unit connected the NHS, partially driven by precocious rates of Covid and flu.

Mr Harper said helium recognised unit were nether "tremendous pressure" and the authorities had offered much resources to the NHS and societal attraction to assistance services cope.

This includes a £500m wintertime money targeted astatine helping hospitals discharge patients who are medically acceptable to permission but cannot due to the fact that of a deficiency of enactment disposable successful the community.

"I anticipation these resources are going to assistance successful the coming months to relieve immoderate of the unit connected our hard-worked wellness and attraction staff," Mr Harper said.

It was "sensible" to inquire sick adults to deterioration masks if needed to spell out, helium said, but champion to enactment location if possible.

The UKHSA has also asked parents to support children disconnected schoolhouse if they person a fever.

There person been crisp rises successful the numbers of radical successful infirmary with Covid and flu successful caller weeks - astir 1 successful 8 beds successful England is present occupied by patients with these infections.

In caller days, a fig of hospitals person declared captious incidents, suggesting they cannot relation arsenic accustomed due to the fact that of bonzer pressure.

Senior doctors person described the NHS arsenic connected a weapon edge, with immoderate mishap and exigency units successful a "complete authorities of crisis".

But Downing Street said the authorities had been "up front" with the nationalist astir the unit the NHS would look this winter.

The Prime Minister's authoritative spokesperson acknowledged that the existent unit connected the wellness work was an "unprecedented challenge".

He said: "I deliberation we are assured we are providing the NHS with the backing it needs - and arsenic we did passim the pandemic - to woody with these issues."

Having gone to A&E with tummy pain, Michael Woodcock, from Harrogate, was told helium needed an exigency cognition due to the fact that his appendix was astatine hazard of bursting.

It was precocious astatine nighttime and helium was booked successful for country the pursuing day.

But with nary beds available, asked nurses whether helium could slumber successful his car alternatively than a waiting-room chair.

"I ended up getting immoderate blankets from the nurses and sleeping successful the car for a fewer hours and past heading backmost into the infirmary successful the greeting for the operation," Mr Woodcock said.

Labour criticised the government's absorption of the wellness service, portion the Liberal Democrats called for Parliament to beryllium recalled early.

MPs are owed backmost astatine Westminster adjacent Monday, pursuing their Christmas break.

Prof Phil Banfield, who chairs the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, called connected the authorities to "step up and instrumentality contiguous action".

The concern was "intolerable and unsustainable", helium said, with the NHS's endurance connected a weapon borderline and patients needlessly dying due to the fact that of a governmental choice.

Richard Webber, of the College of Paramedics, said the existent concern was the worst successful his 30-year career.

Delays were causing patients "significant harm", helium said, with ambulance services present struggling to find disposable crews for cardiac arrests - the highest class of exigency call.

"I've ne'er known thing similar it," Mr Webber said.

Have you been affected by the issues raised successful this story? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please see a interaction fig if consenting to talk to a BBC News journalist. You tin besides marque interaction successful the pursuing ways:

If speechmaking this leafage but incapable spot the form, sojourn the mobile mentation of the BBC website to taxable a question oregon remark - oregon email HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please see your name, property and location, with immoderate submission.