Top medical journalist explains why PM must scrap Christmas Covid rules

15 December 2020, 14:00 | Updated: 15 December 2020, 15:10

Top medical journalist explains why PM must scrap Christmas rules

By Fiona Jones

The Health Service Journal editor explains to LBC why he has partnered with the British Medical Journal in a joint editorial urging the Government to scrap Christmas Covid relaxation.

In their second collaboration in a century, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and Health Service Journal (HSJ) have called for the Prime Minister to scrap the Christmas rule relaxation, as London and parts of the south join the areas of England already in Tier Three.

The journals warn that hospital bed capacity will be overwhelmed if there is a festive relaxation, branding the decision to allow household mixing "rash" - especially ahead of what they predict to be a "third wave."

They say a third wave would hit non-Covid treatments hardest, as it “could wipe out almost all the reductions in waiting times for elective procedures achieved in the past 20 years”.

This corroborates with the Labour leader Keir Starmer, who has also demanded an urgent review into the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas.

Read more: What are the Christmas rules in tier 3?

The editorial has evoked some strong Twitter responses, with one reader branding it "grave reading."

HSJ editor Alastair McLellan told Shelagh Fogarty that the decision to collaborate on this urgent plea came after they "observed a really really significant increase in the number of people admitted to hospital with Covid-19."

Mr McLellan continued: "When the Government planned on a Christmas break, it had assumed reasonably that the Covid load on the NHS would be getting less as a result of the restrictions they placed over the autumn. But unfortunately it hasn't turned out that way.

Eddie Mair’s fiery clash with Tory MP over whether Christmas rules make sense

"More and more people are getting Covid, more and more people are ending up in hospital."

Shelagh countered that Health Secretary Matt Hancock might respond to that argument by pointing out that London, parts of Hertfordshire and Essex have been moved into Tier Three for that very reason.

Mr McLellan believed that this action is not enough: "Yes, he's put London and those areas in to Tier Three and in six or so days' time, we'll be allowing household mixing.

"The Tier Three restrictions, when they have been in place, the results have been very mixed to say the least. Kent, which was placed in Tier Three at the start of December, is seeing infections and hospitalisations soaring away."

Jeremy Hunt talks about relaxed Covid rules for Christmas amid criticism of the policy

The latest figures show the number of confirmed cases daily in the UK is 18,815, with the number of overall deaths exceeding 64,000 - Shelagh asked whether the Prime Minister needs to make a tough decision about Christmas.

"I think he has an opportunity to say the facts have changed and therefore I have changed my mind, which is a very reasonable and pragmatic approach which I think most people would understand," said Mr McLellan.

He pointed out that the PM, if he reversed the Christmas relaxation, will probably "have the support of the Treasury" because if household mixing does occur over the festive period then there is likely to be a severe lockdown in January and February with the resulting economic impact.

He added that as well as January and February being the toughest time for the NHS generally, they are also in the process of rolling out a national vaccine programme which will use even more resources.

More Shelagh Fogarty News

See more More Shelagh Fogarty News

The Princess of Wales says she edited the photograph that was released to mark Mother's Day.

The insistence that we see Kate is tantamount to stalking, writes Shelagh Fogarty

Caller tells Shelagh his solution to illegal immigration.

LBC caller tells Shelagh Fogarty that the Channel islands are the answer to 'illegal immigration'

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' immigration policies

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self-interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' migration policies

Shelagh Fogarty

Former Treasury official outlines 'three immediate priorities' likely to be reflected in Autumn Statement

Shelagh Fogarty

Suella Braverman's hardline crime bill seems like she's ‘interviewing' for career at ‘pathetic’ news channels, says caller

Shelagh and caller Sam

Anti-Semitic chants and actions 'delegitimize' pro-Palestinian cause asserts this Shelagh Fogarty caller

Shelagh and Ricardo Dos Santos

'It's sickening': Ricardo Dos Santos speaks to Shelagh Fogarty as two officers sacked over stop and search

Shelagh

Rishi Sunak has 'failed monumentally' to 'humanise' both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict says Israel expert

Shelagh and Callum

Twitter is a 'particularly dangerous' place to get information now says the Centre for Countering Digital Hate

Shelagh and caller Simon

LBC caller details 'disgusting anti-Semitic' act he witnessed, as hate crimes rise in fall out of Israel-Hamas war

Sister of missing Israeli woman

'We hope she's hiding somewhere': Sister of missing Israeli festival goer fears she is being held hostage by Hamas

Distraught caller on Israel-Gaza conflict.

'This is a war against Hamas!': Distraught caller wants Israel and Palestine to take down the 'enemy' together

Shelagh and Alicia Kearns

Head of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee expresses concern over Israeli 'siege of Gaza'

Shelagh Fogarty caller on facial recognition.

This caller lacks 'trust' in the government's handling of the AI facial recognition debate

Shelagh condemns PM's comments on 'dignity' of the elderly.

'He painted a picture of a Britain that the Conservatives meant to build...': Shelagh Fogarty condemns PM's suggestion that elderly have 'dignity'

Shelagh Fogarty on Jenrick

'We're full aren't we?': Shelagh questions Robert Jenrick's motive behind encouraging Brits to increase birth rate