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Danny Mortimer, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, responded to the plans to move out of lockdown outlined by the Prime Minister 

“Health leaders tell us about the increasing pressures their teams are now facing dealing with winter as well as the challenges around looking after COVID patients at the same time as providing services for non-COVID patients. What we do not want is for the rules to be relaxed so much that a third wave is triggered.

“The hope that life could be back to normal by Easter is one we all share but continued vigilance from the public is imperative if we are to give the NHS a fighting chance this winter with the tightened tier system outlined by the prime minister as we see early signs of the spread of coronavirus beginning to reduce nationally. 

“The best and most effective way we can all help the NHS and care sector is by following local guidelines that come into force once the national lockdown is lifted.

“It was important to send the signal that life could not go back to normal after this second lockdown and we hope these tougher measures will protect the NHS from becoming overwhelmed but we also need to see significant improvement from the test and trace system which is failing to reach half of people’s contacts.

“We also urge the government to explain to the public the impact the demand of delivering mass vaccinations will have on already understaffed and stretched teams and the other services they provide.”