Just spoke to a good friend of mine who I did my nurse training with years ago. Works in a busy North London Hospital, in pre assessment for surgery. Last peak she asked to be redeployed as has ICU skills, but was instructed to do e-learning instead.

She said the hospitals are busy and prepared for surge beds in other areas for step up to ICU (ie. anaesthetic rooms if needed). Wards are busy with normal patients and a lot of Covid positive patients in the wards, but not using surge capacity yet.

She said visitors are still not allowed and many have died alone. Her patients are being delayed their elective operations, many for cancer proceedures. Cases going to private hospitals to try catch up the massive back log caused by first lockdown.

She had the Oxford vaccine, said she had the worse rigors she ever had but was ok after a couple of days. Her boyfriend who also works in the NHS was off work for 5 days after the vaccine. Many many staff off sick after the vaccine.

She had symptoms late last year. She had 3 negative PCR tests, but 3 positive lateral flow tests. Had to isolate. She thinks it was really just allergic asthma from new kittens. They won't do an antibody test and would not prior the vaccine either.

She is aware the decisions being made by the top down are causing negative impacts for others. The issues within the NHS are general, acute beds and ICU surge prep, staff sickness, vacancy rates and PPE use increasing workload. Not Covid patients stacking up outside the doors.