More than 200 staff at Salisbury District Hospital are currently off sick, the trust has revealed, putting a strain on services.

Today, January 4, around 250 staff are off with around 50 per cent of these absences caused by Covid.

Staffing issues are being seen across the NHS due to staff sickness, many health workers catching Covid and needing to self isolate for seven days. 

The issue is exacerbated by the ever-increasing number of Covid cases, which today reached their highest daily total in the UK. 

Nineteen Covid patients are being treated at the Odstock Road site as of this morning. 

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust CEO Stacey Hunter said: "Like many other hospitals we are experiencing a higher than usual number of staff shortages due to sickness...

"Across the hospital colleagues are responding to the challenge by supporting each other, demonstrating high levels of flexibility and incredible commitment. 

"There is no doubt that it is very tough at the moment and as a team we are constantly reviewing how we best deploy our staff in order to maintain compassionate and high-quality patient care."

READ MORE: Nurse honoured by the Queen shares 'harrowing' experience during the pandemic

Hospital staff have asked the community for help by using A&E as a last resort rather than a first, advising that there are many other ways to get help and advice. 

Ms Hunter suggested using NHS 111 online, talking to your local pharmacist, visiting the Salisbury walk in centre, and only in extreme or life-threatening circumstances calling 999 or visiting A&E. 

She added: "The single best thing people can do right now is to make sure they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, it is never too late to get vaccinated or have the booster jab."

READ MORE: Covid behind large number of staff absences at city's hospital, figures show

Swindon's Great Western Hospital declared an 'internal critical incident' today as their Covid inpatient numbers rose to 67, which is up 81 per cent since Christmas Eve. 

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive, Kevin McNamara, apologised for the delays to patients accessing their services, and tweeted that the hospital had declared an "Internal Critical Incident due to sustained high levels of demand" both Covid and Non-Covid related.

He said: "We always knew that Jan would be a tough month for everyone & our modelling shows that it is likely to get tougher in the next few weeks.

"Our teams are working hard to provide care to those that need it & we are of course working closely with partners seeking support."

Today over 200,000 Covid cases were recorded, which is the highest amount of daily cases since the pandemic began.

Royal College of Nursing director for England, Patricia Marquis, said the Government needs to be “honest” with the public about the pressure being put on the health service, adding that patient care is being impacted.

She said: “Many nursing staff are going into work with only half the number of staff that are needed but with still the same number of patients to look after.

“They are being spread thinner and thinner and we are hearing of many being reduced to tears because they are not able to deliver the care to their patients.”

In an address to the nation today, Boris Johnson said that despite the huge increase in Covid cases there is a "substantial" level of immunity in the population, and we can “ride out this Omicron wave” without a lockdown. 

But he says the weeks ahead are going to be “challenging", citing staff absences as one of the reasons for this.

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