NHS staff will be forced to have two jabs or lose jobs
Health groups say plans would force trusts to either fire staff or remove them from the frontline at a time when the NHS is already chronically understaffed
It seems that ministers are planning to enact new laws that will make vaccinations mandatory for NHS staff, leaving them to choose between getting two jabs and losing their job.
Sajid Javid will force NHS staff to have two Covid jabs, reports The Sunday Times, which states that the health secretary is seeking to bring in legislation that would make full vaccination a condition of employment.
The argument given by Mr Javid for doing so is that it would further protect vulnerable patients whilst staying in hospital, however, scientific advice listed on the government’s own website says that you can still catch Covid and pass it on when vaccinated.
Health groups, meanwhile, have kicked back against the plans – saying that this would force trusts to either fire staff or remove them from frontline duty at a time when the NHS is already chronically understaffed.
According to The Sunday Times, around 7% (106,351) of NHS staff in England have still not been vaccinated.
News also emerged for the first time in The Observer yesterday that emergency Covid planning has now begun with local councils in England.
The paper reported that the UK’s health emergency committee has been in touch with local authorities to discuss bringing in more restrictions as part of Plan B.
Last week, new Covid cases passed the 50,000 per day mark for the first time in three months. Mr Javid is currently putting together a new strategy with a blueprint due to be announced in the coming weeks.
He is expected to announce new measures including more community diagnostic centres, to open in football stadiums and shopping centres where scans and blood tests can be carried out and new surgical hubs for carrying out routine operations.
It is also expected that he will announce more deals with the private sector in a bid to cut the backlog that has accumulated in elective surgeries.
Other plans to cut waiting list times include the removal of patients the Prime Minister and Javid believe should not be on there, such as those who are currently considered too obese to have minor surgery.
Mr Javid is also preparing to roll out booster jabs to the over 50’s after the Christmas holidays.
New data reveals a third of Brits admit to secretly sneaking off work early on a Friday
Emily Sergeant
Surprising new data has revealed that a third of Brits admits to secretly sneaking off work early on a Friday.
After a long and tiring week, most of us would love the chance to clock off work a little earlier than usual on a Friday, but for a lot of workers, this isn’t always a possibility – and for some, they even have to work longer at the end of the week to make sure everything has been finished off and tied up before the weekend arrives.
But since there has been a noticeable rise in remote working and working from home, a new survey has revealed that working attitudes have changed.
Virgin Media has released new broadband data that reveals a drop in traffic on Friday afternoons during the summer months – with as much as an 8% dip between 3-5pm compared to the winter, as remote workers clock off early.
A third of Brits admit to secretly sneaking off work early on a Friday / Credit: Glenn Carstens-Peters | Robin Worrall (via Unsplash)
The Friday traffic drop-off comes from Virgin Media’s broadband network analysis, which it says is a ‘reliable indicator’ of the connectivity habits of the British public.
Alongside the network data, Virgin Media also asked Brits about their work policies and working habits ij a bid to fully understand the trend.
Nearly a third (30%) of Brits say they have a formal early Friday finish in place during the summer, but despite almost half of UK adults (48%) saying they’re not authorised to finish early on a Friday, 32% have admitted to regularly logging off with or without official permission.
Surprising new data has revealed Brits’ working habits / Credit: Chuttersnap (via Unsplash)
Many Brits have also confessed to working ‘on the move’ on a Friday afternoon too.
15% admitted to having worked from the train station as the weekend creeps nearer, as well as 14% from the park, 10% from the pub, and many as 30% of 18-24-year-olds worked from the car while travelling for the weekend.
“Our network traffic analysis is revealing changing workplace habits in real time as the nation takes advantage of long summer Fridays,” commented Jeanie York, who is the Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2.
“We’re continuing to boost our fixed and mobile networks so whether Brits are working from their local park, or finishing their work at home, we’re ready to keep them connected.”
Featured Image – Israel Andrade (via Unsplash)
News
Tiny Manchester pub brilliantly condemns ‘alarming rise’ in hate speech
Daisy Jackson
A micropub in Manchester city centre has spoken out about an ‘alarming rise’ in hate speech.
The Victoria Tap, a tiny little boozer at Manchester Victoria train station, strongly condemned any racist, homophobic or sexist conversations taking place in its venue.
The pub said ‘there is absolutely no room for it’ within its walls.
In a statement – which has been met with praise from customers and followers – they added that anyone bringing hate speech to the pub ‘can let the door kick you on the way out’.
The Victoria Tap wrote: “We’ve noticed an alarming rise in racist, homophobic and sexist slurs/comments/conversations lately and we just want to say that there is absolutely no room for it here.
“This is a safe space for everyone.
“If you, or someone in your group, want to disturb this philosophy, you can let the door kick you on the way out.”
The Victoria Tap has brilliantly condemned ‘alarming rise’ in hate speech
Praising their statement, one person wrote: “Great to read this. There is NO place for this. All public spaces should be welcoming.”
Another said: “Pubs should be welcoming environments for people of all walks of life. There’s no room for misogyny, racism or discrimination of any kind. Those who espouse those thoughts need a good hard look in the mirror.”
Someone else commented: “That’s how I see the Vic Tap. Great place for a safe quiet pint. Keep up the great work guys as it’s a fantastic venue.”
The Victoria Tap opened at Manchester Victoria back in 2023, completely transforming a space that was previously a bin store.
As well as its cosy interior, it has a small beer garden which overlooks the tram tracks in and out of the train station.
It’s operated by the same team behind the Piccadilly Tap and the even newer Oxford Tap.
We know exactly where we’ll be heading for our next pint now. Good work, Victoria Tap.
Georgina Pellant -
25th October 2021 
