UK

Psychiatrists are braced for a surge in demand for mental health care in the months ahead, as people struggle to cope during the coronavirus lockdown. The number of people experiencing severe mental illnesses and needing urgent care amid the pandemic has become a serious cause for concern, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has told Sky

Another 33,470 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours – the highest figure recorded since the pandemic began, according to government figures. It brings the total number of cases in the UK to 1,290,195. On Wednesday, 22,950 people tested positive, while the number of UK deaths since the start of the

The number of people waiting more than a year to start non-coronavirus hospital treatment in September was the highest of any month since 2008, new data reveals. In England there were 139,545 patients left waiting more than 52 weeks to start their hospital treatment – up from just 1,305 in September 2019. The most recent

A nurse has been charged with eight counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder in connection with baby deaths at a hospital in Cheshire. Lucy Letby, 30, has been charged in connection with an investigation into the deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital, Cheshire Police said. She is due to appear at

The number of people who have died with coronavirus in the UK has passed 50,000, according to government figures which highlight the devastating impact of the virus on the country. A further 595 deaths were confirmed on Wednesday, bringing the country’s total to 50,365. It marks a significant moment in the pandemic for the UK,

Another 532 people with coronavirus have died across the UK in the latest 24-hour period – compared to 194 a day earlier, government figures show. It is the highest number recorded since mid-May and brings the total number of deaths in the UK to 49,770. Another 20,412 people have tested positive for the virus, taking

Students in Wales will not take exams for their GCSEs, AS-levels or A-levels next summer, Wales’s education minister has announced. Kirsty Williams said the decision had been made for the “well-being of learners” and to “ensure fairness” as students will have spent different amounts of time in school or college during the coronavirus pandemic. Image:

Children hardest hit by COVID-19 nursery and school closures are regressing in basic skills like using a knife and fork, according to Ofsted. In a series of reports the government education watchdog says children have fallen behind with their mathematics and are struggling with literacy, while school leaders have reported a rise in older pupils

Wales’ first minister has said there are “tentative early positive signs” that the spread of coronavirus has slowed, as people visited non-essential shops and cafes for the first time after the country’s firebreak lockdown. Queues were seen outside shops including Primark and Matalan in Cardiff as the restrictions were relaxed. Live updates on coronavirus from UK

Wales’ 17-day firebreak lockdown has ended and new national measures to combat COVID-19 have come into effect. The new national restrictions include: Groups of up to four people from different households can meet in cafes, pubs and restaurants Shops, gyms, hairdressers and places of worship can reopen Supermarkets can sell non-essential items People can meet

The Queen and senior members of the Royal Family have marked Remembrance Sunday at a scaled-back event at the Cenotaph, due to coronavirus restrictions. Last year, more than 1,000 military personnel took part in commemorations in Whitehall in central London – this year, it was fewer than 150. Where ordinarily 10,000 veterans would usually gather,

The Queen has worn a face mask in public for the first time as she visited the grave of the Unknown Warrior to mark 100 years since his burial. The visit to Westminster Abbey was her first public engagement in London since March. A royal aide said Wednesday’s service was “deeply personal” for the Queen,

It is too late to find the nurses needed to meet the demands of an “extremely challenging” winter – with 40,000 vacancies in England alone, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned. The union now called on the government to “be honest” about the risks a lack of staff could pose to patient safety.

More than 618,000 people had coronavirus in community settings in England last week, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said. The estimated total, which covers 25 to 31 October, equates to around one in 90 people in the population. New infections in England stabilised at around 50,000 a day, suggesting a levelling off in

People should be paid to have a COVID-19 jab so the country reaches herd immunity as quickly as possible, a leading ethicist has suggested. Professor Julian Savulescu from the University of Oxford said incentives would help to overcome rising vaccine hesitancy due to perceived safety concerns. People could either be given a financial inducement to

Just 59.9% of close contacts of people who tested positive for coronavirus were reached by NHS Test and Trace in the week ending 28 October, figures show. This is the second-lowest weekly percentage for the scheme so far – down from 60.6% in the seven days to 21 October. Over the same period, 137,180 people