Medical leaders fear the country could go back to square one

Medical royal colleges are warning that the current wave of COVID-19 could soon overwhelm the NHS. They say the only way this can be avoided is for everyone to abide strictly to the rules despite regional differences and sometimes overly complicated guidance.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said,
‘Unless everyone follows the hands face and space rule and sticks strictly to local lockdown measures we are in real danger of the NHS being unable to cope and deliver the other services patients need. Given the recent dramatic spike in both the number of cases and hospital admissions it is clear that we could soon be back to where we were in April if we are not all extremely careful. This is a matter of national importance and we will only get through this if we all pull together.’

7 October 2020