The public health body set up by Boris Johnson to combat the coronavirus pandemic is in turmoil, with staff cuts of up to 40% looming and plans to suspend routine Covid testing in hospitals and care homes to save money.
Whitehall sources have told the Guardian that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), led by Dr Jenny Harries, is in a state of disarray, with morale at rock bottom and concerns that it is not funded to cope with any resurgence in the pandemic. Public health experts warned that the "alarming" cuts could cost lives.
More than 800 staff are due to be lost from vital health protection teams across the country in the coming months-areduction of 40% from the current head count of 2,000. One insider said people were being given two weeks' notice that their contracts were being ended early, and that the way it was being dealt with was similar to the "recent situation at P&O”.
Other teams in the organisation have also been told they need to cut full-time-equivalent staff by 40%.
After the Treasury slashed its budget for dealing with Covid from this month, UKHSA is now proposing to health ministers that it suspend regular asymptomatic testing in hospitals and care homes from May, to save money for a potential winter surge in cases.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 27, 2022-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
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