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| UK coronavirus live: refuse to treat patients without PPE 'as last resort', says nursing body, as three nurses die | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Three nurses have died after contracting Covid-19, amid growing criticism of the lack of protection for NHS staff | Three nurses have died after contracting Covid-19, amid growing criticism of the lack of protection for NHS staff |
| Parliament remains on course to return on 21 April, a date agreed by MPs before the Easter recess, despite demands for an emergency recall. | |
| A spokesman for Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said: | |
| Addressing concerns that only 1.4% of the 300,000 applications for business support had been processed, business secretary Alok Sharma said he had held conversations with lenders to speed up loan payouts. | |
| Speaking to Sky News, he said: “I have spent the last couple of days talking directly to some of the largest lenders who are part of this scheme. | |
| “I am very clear to say to them, we need to get money out of the door as soon as possible and they understand that and banks know on this occasion why they have to be part of the solution and they want to be part of the solution.” | |
| Sharma said £800m had been paid out as part of 4,200 loans under the coronavirus business support measures. | |
| Asked whether he was worried, the Business Secretary said: “Well, of course. It is not just a question of me being worried - I completely understand the concerns that businesses have.” | |
| The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, delivered his first digital Easter Sunday service from his kitchen in London. | |
| “Welcome to the kitchen of our home on Easter Day,” he said. | |
| “At this very difficult time in the life of the nation and of the world, our prayers today are especially with those who are suffering, with those who care for them, and for all who mourn.” | |
| The service was pre-recorded on the Archbishop’s iPad, with him wearing full robes and having set up a makeshift altar on his dining table | |
| He was joined “virtually” by bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkins and a 10-year-old parishioner named Theo from the diocese of Canterbury. | |
| Nurses should refuse to treat Covid-19 patients “as a last resort” if they are not given adequate personal protective equipment, according to guidance from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). | |
| At least 19 NHS workers are known to have died during the coronavirus outbreak, and the government has been criticised for failing to provide enough protection. | At least 19 NHS workers are known to have died during the coronavirus outbreak, and the government has been criticised for failing to provide enough protection. |
| A spokesman for RCN said: “For nursing staff, this will go against every instinct. But their safety must not be compromised.” | A spokesman for RCN said: “For nursing staff, this will go against every instinct. But their safety must not be compromised.” |
| The union said it would provide legal assistance to those making what it acknowledged was an “enormously difficult decision”. | The union said it would provide legal assistance to those making what it acknowledged was an “enormously difficult decision”. |
| Business secretary Alok Sharma said health workers should not be put in such a position. He told Sky News: “It is absolutely right that no medical professional should be placed in a position where they have to make that choice. | |
| “That for me is self-evident. That is why we are making sure we get the equipment to the front line.” | |
| Sharma added: “In a normal circumstance, you would have us providing PPE to about 233 hospital trusts across the country. We are now talking about supplying 58,000 NHS and social care settings. | |
| “That is a huge increase and on top of that, there is huge global demand for PPE and that does put a squeeze on supply.” | |
| The leader of the Labour party, Keir Starmer, has said now is “not the time to ask difficult questions” on whether the government was too slow to act on the coronavirus crisis, but said more scrutiny of decisions is needed. | The leader of the Labour party, Keir Starmer, has said now is “not the time to ask difficult questions” on whether the government was too slow to act on the coronavirus crisis, but said more scrutiny of decisions is needed. |
| “I challenge the government hard on this, not just to score a point, but to fix it,” said Starmer on Sophy Ridge on Sunday, adding that challenging questions will need to be asked in time. | |
| “I’m trying to resist calls for apologies or criticising past decisions. I will work with the government on this, we will support them in trying to get this right.” | “I’m trying to resist calls for apologies or criticising past decisions. I will work with the government on this, we will support them in trying to get this right.” |
| He said “it would be smart” of the government to acknowledge it has failed to meet its ambitions on personal protective equipment for NHS staff and apologise. | He said “it would be smart” of the government to acknowledge it has failed to meet its ambitions on personal protective equipment for NHS staff and apologise. |
| He also welcomed the announcement from the leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, that parliament will return on 21 April using “technological solutions”. | |
| “It’s very important in a crisis like this that parliament is sitting so decisions must be scrutinised,” said Starmer. He also called on the government to set out its lockdown exit strategy | “It’s very important in a crisis like this that parliament is sitting so decisions must be scrutinised,” said Starmer. He also called on the government to set out its lockdown exit strategy |
| The business secretary, Alok Sharma, stopped short of apologising for the lack of adequate protective equipment for NHS staff on the frontline. | The business secretary, Alok Sharma, stopped short of apologising for the lack of adequate protective equipment for NHS staff on the frontline. |
| Speaking on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Sharma said: “I am extremely sorry for the loss of any life that has taken place during this global pandemic. | Speaking on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Sharma said: “I am extremely sorry for the loss of any life that has taken place during this global pandemic. |
| “It is our job to make sure we get that protective equipment out to them. We do have a plan, we’re putting that in place.” | “It is our job to make sure we get that protective equipment out to them. We do have a plan, we’re putting that in place.” |
| He also praised British companies who have joined the effort to produce more personal protective equipment (PPE). | He also praised British companies who have joined the effort to produce more personal protective equipment (PPE). |
| He refused to comment on any extension to the lockdown in the UK, but when asked about tightening restrictions, he said:“I don’t think that’s particularly helpful at this stage.” | He refused to comment on any extension to the lockdown in the UK, but when asked about tightening restrictions, he said:“I don’t think that’s particularly helpful at this stage.” |
| When asked about the health of prime minister Boris Johnson, who is no longer in intensive care, Sharma said: “He’s in very good spirits. He’s walking about a bit.” | When asked about the health of prime minister Boris Johnson, who is no longer in intensive care, Sharma said: “He’s in very good spirits. He’s walking about a bit.” |
| Boris Johnson has praised the NHS staff at St Thomas’ Hospital who have cared for him during his time in hospital. | Boris Johnson has praised the NHS staff at St Thomas’ Hospital who have cared for him during his time in hospital. |
| In his first statement since leaving intensive care, Johnson said: “I can’t thank them enough, I owe them my life.” | In his first statement since leaving intensive care, Johnson said: “I can’t thank them enough, I owe them my life.” |
| A No 10 spokeswoman said on Saturday: “The prime minister continues to make very good progress.” | A No 10 spokeswoman said on Saturday: “The prime minister continues to make very good progress.” |
| Johnson’s fiancee, Carrie Symonds, provided the prime minister with daily updates while he was in hospital, including scans of their unborn child, as he struggled with coronavirus in hospital, a Downing Street source confirmed. | Johnson’s fiancee, Carrie Symonds, provided the prime minister with daily updates while he was in hospital, including scans of their unborn child, as he struggled with coronavirus in hospital, a Downing Street source confirmed. |
| The Post Office is making two of its products available to all UK banks, building societies and credit unions, to make it easier for people who are self-isolating to access cash. | The Post Office is making two of its products available to all UK banks, building societies and credit unions, to make it easier for people who are self-isolating to access cash. |
| The products are Payout Now - a voucher sent by text, email or post to a customer who can share it with a trusted person to withdraw cash; and Fast Pace - a service allowing a customer to arrange for a trusted person to collect a cheque from them, cash it at Post Office and return with the money. | The products are Payout Now - a voucher sent by text, email or post to a customer who can share it with a trusted person to withdraw cash; and Fast Pace - a service allowing a customer to arrange for a trusted person to collect a cheque from them, cash it at Post Office and return with the money. |
| Martin Kearsley, banking director at the Post Office, said: “The vast majority of post offices are open, however there are branches that have to close for self-isolation reasons. | Martin Kearsley, banking director at the Post Office, said: “The vast majority of post offices are open, however there are branches that have to close for self-isolation reasons. |
| He said anyone collecting cash on someone else’s behalf must remember to practise safe distancing and should consider arranging with the recipient how the cash can be safely handed over - through a person’s letterbox, for example. | He said anyone collecting cash on someone else’s behalf must remember to practise safe distancing and should consider arranging with the recipient how the cash can be safely handed over - through a person’s letterbox, for example. |
| Good morning, this is Jessica Murray, and I’ll be running the live blog tracking the latest coronavirus developments in the UK this Easter Sunday. | Good morning, this is Jessica Murray, and I’ll be running the live blog tracking the latest coronavirus developments in the UK this Easter Sunday. |
| Feel free to get in touch to share your experiences, or with any tips, comments and suggestions via jessica.murray@theguardian.com or via Twitter (@journojess_) | Feel free to get in touch to share your experiences, or with any tips, comments and suggestions via jessica.murray@theguardian.com or via Twitter (@journojess_) |
| Tributes have been paid to three more nurses who died after contracting Covid-19, with more than 30 NHS staff now thought to have died with the virus. | Tributes have been paid to three more nurses who died after contracting Covid-19, with more than 30 NHS staff now thought to have died with the virus. |
| On Saturday, Central and North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust confirmed Sara Trollope, a nurse employed by the trust, had died at Watford General Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19. | On Saturday, Central and North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust confirmed Sara Trollope, a nurse employed by the trust, had died at Watford General Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19. |
| Paying tribute to the mother-of-four who worked at Hillingdon Hospital, medical director Dr Paul Hopper said: “Sara had that unbeatable combination of kindness, selflessness and total determination to get things right for patients. She was an example to every one of us.” | Paying tribute to the mother-of-four who worked at Hillingdon Hospital, medical director Dr Paul Hopper said: “Sara had that unbeatable combination of kindness, selflessness and total determination to get things right for patients. She was an example to every one of us.” |
| It comes after Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed the death of a nurse who was self-isolating due to Covid-19 symptoms. | It comes after Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed the death of a nurse who was self-isolating due to Covid-19 symptoms. |
| Julie Omar, 52, was an experienced nurse who had been working at Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital. | Julie Omar, 52, was an experienced nurse who had been working at Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital. |
| Trust chief executive Matthew Hopkins said: “It is with great sorrow that I have to share with you the sad news that a much-loved member of our nursing team - Julie Omar - has died.” | Trust chief executive Matthew Hopkins said: “It is with great sorrow that I have to share with you the sad news that a much-loved member of our nursing team - Julie Omar - has died.” |
| Gareth Roberts, who had been a nurse since the 1980s, was also confirmed to have died after testing positive for the virus, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said. | Gareth Roberts, who had been a nurse since the 1980s, was also confirmed to have died after testing positive for the virus, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said. |
| Two porters at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford were also confirmed to have died. | Two porters at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford were also confirmed to have died. |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said on Saturday that both men were married to nursing staff at the hospital. | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said on Saturday that both men were married to nursing staff at the hospital. |
| On Saturday morning, Health Secretary Matt Hancock paid tribute to those who had died, then announcing a total of 19 deaths. | On Saturday morning, Health Secretary Matt Hancock paid tribute to those who had died, then announcing a total of 19 deaths. |
| He said: “My heart goes out to their families, these are people who have put themselves on the front line. | He said: “My heart goes out to their families, these are people who have put themselves on the front line. |