NHS given 20,000 extra staff and thousands of beds & ventilators from private hospitals to fight coronavirus

The NHS has struck a deal with private hospitals to recruit nearly 20,000 staff to help out with other urgent operations and cancer treatments.

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There will also be 8,000 hospital beds provided across England and nearly 1,200 more ventilators along with the 10,000 nurses, over 700 doctors and over 8,000 other clinical staff.

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens hailed the deal with the private sector, saying: "We're dealing with an unprecedented global health threat and are taking immediate and exceptional action to gear up.

"The NHS is doing everything in its power to expand treatment capacity and is working with partners right across the country to do so."

There are fears the NHS will buckle trying to curb the spread of coronavirus - with the death toll in Britain today rising to 178 and cases reaching at least 4,145.

The NHS is already planning to cancel or delay all non-emergency operations to free up vital resources key to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The Government has also asked manufacturers to step up efforts to help in the production of kit needed.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said previously surgery that was not time sensitive would either be cancelled or postponed.

Speaking about today's deal, he said: "This is great news for the hospitals and staff doing everything they can to combat coronavirus."

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Under the agreement, the independent sector will reallocate almost its entire national hospital capacity to the NHS and will be reimbursed at cost.

It comes as Steven Powis told Brits today they can save lives by "following the rules" as "suppression" is the only way to beat coronavirus.

The national medical director made a direct plea to the nation this afternoon at Downing Street to do what they are being told.

Brits have been told to practise social distancing and work from home where possible - with pubs and restaurants now shut.

Mr Powis said bluntly: "It's not for somebody else to follow, it's for you to follow, it's for me to follow, it's for everybody to follow.

"This is all our problem and if we do it together, it will be an effective strategy.

"If you do it, you follow the advice, you will be saving somebody's life.

"This is the time in your lifetime whereby your action can save somebody's life. It is as simple and as stark as that."

More to follow...

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