Staff from the NHS have gathered outside Downing Street tonight (Thursday) to protest over the Government’s handling of the pandemic.
The small crowd, who were wearing PPE and carrying a sign which read “You failed the public, you failed the NHS, Boris must go”, arrived at 8pm, the scheduled start time of the Clap For Heroes
There was no clapping along Whitehall in the heart of Westminster as one nurse from the five campaigners told PA: “The situation in hospitals is so severe, we are stretched across all ICUs.”
ICU nurse Ameera Sheikh told reporters: “It’s been very difficult, very challenging.
“We’re stressed out and very anxious, there’s a lot of PTSD amongst staff, staff are going off sick …leaving nurses very short, which increases the risk of patients deteriorating and ultimately patients dying.
“This is the Government’s fault, they need to take responsibility, they need to provide us with better pay and better working conditions.”
Ms Sheikh went on: “It’s 8pm, it’s Thursday, it’s Clap for Carers, whilst we appreciate the claps that the public are doing and some of them are staying at home, we do not appreciate our Government clapping for us because essentially they are the reason why we are in this position.
“They’ve not planned at all and they’ve had months to plan ahead and they’ve left us in such a terrible position.”
Around five minutes after the protesting staff gathered, several police officers arrived at the gates of Downing Street.
The campaigners were reminded of the national lockdown measures and the group then dispersed.
Shortly before 7,30pm, Boris Johnson took to Twitter to celebrate the vaccinations which are being given across the UK, tweeting: “Superb news that we’ve administered over 3 million vaccine doses across the UK. THANK YOU to all who have responded to the call and to the NHS, Armed Forces and volunteers who make it happen.
"It brings real hope, but it’s critical that for now we #StayHomeSaveLives.”
