Themes of the week: vaccine roll-out, the COVID tide turning, and the lockdown ending. This is where I think we’re at, having talked again with friends across the UK and compared this all with the national data. 1/9

Friends in many (not all) badly hit hospitals tell me the second COVID tide is beginning to turn. BUT the NHS is still really busy keeping surgery services going, as well as winter pressures of acute medical admissions, and then COVID on top of all that. 2/9

News from ground level fits with the national data which show a consistent decrease in numbers of people testing positive for SARS CoV-2, a decrease in patients being admitted to hospital with COVID-19, and in subsequent deaths. 3/9

SARS CoV-2 test positive rates are now falling across almost all of the UK. Not everywhere though. The map on the left shows the 7-day average on 14th November, and on the right from 28th November. Still a few hospitals badly affected in the hot spots though. 4/9

The main problem for the NHS everywhere is staffing. Lots of staff are shielding, in self-isolation or affected by COVID-19 itself. Mental health is also a big issue for staff run ragged in a very difficult year. Extra pressure from media, public & politicians isn't helping. 5/9

The Pfizer vaccine release is big news this week. Lots of chat about who will get vaccinated first, how and when. Young and healthy may have to wait until spring but we still need volunteers for clinical trials of the new vaccines coming through (which may work even better). 6/9

It's fine to ask questions about vaccination but be very careful of deliberate mis-information on social media. Please make sure you get your information from a trusted source. Here is the NHS webpage. Also @bbchealth has some good content. #DocsForVax 7/9 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

I'm happy to have any @MHRAgovuk approved vaccine. Understandable that some worry about the pace of vaccine development this year but MHRA approval means rigorous evaluation. Risks of vaccination are far less than risks of COVID-19. Please speak up for vaccines. #DocsForVax 8/9

Finally, great news that the full lockdown has ended in most areas (not all). The numbers show you are making the difference. NHS staff are proud to be here for you but the virus is still out there. There may yet be a third wave so don’t give up on #HandsFaceSpace – it works! 9/9