Hospitals in England draw up plans for significant Covid staff absences

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Hospitals are drawing up contingency plans for significant staff absences" to ensure they can still provide essential" care for the most seriously ill patients, as health leaders warn the Omicron variant is already triggering staff shortages in the NHS.

Staff absences have tripled at one NHS trust in London in just a week, the Guardian has been told. Doctors say they are concerned about their ability to provide care if a significant proportion of colleagues are off sick.