NHS at breaking point: Critical patients ‘evacuated’ across country as hospitals overwhelmed by Covid

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing December 31, 2020 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines Critically ill patients are being [“evacuated” from the south of England]( to hospitals hundreds of miles away as NHS bosses in London revealed data showing the capital is set to run out of critical care beds within a week. There were 50,000 positive cases reported across the UK for the second day running on Wednesday, with figures showing London - now the centre of the crisis - with 5,524 patients in hospital, more than its first-wave peak in April. In response to the worsening crisis in London, The Independent has learnt NHS England will announce plans on Thursday to reopen the Nightingale Hospital, at the east London Excel conference centre, on 4 January - initially with around 60 beds for patients who are almost ready to leave hospital. Several patients from across Kent have been taken to Plymouth, Southampton, Bristol and Leeds in recent days as the southeast of England has run out of beds as the numbers of coronavirus patients continues to rise. Britain is to begin the next chapter in its relationship with the European Union after Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal [cleared parliament and entered into law]( in a single day with just hours to spare before the end of the transition period. The prime minister said the country’s destiny “now resides firmly in our hands” after the government rushed through approval of a bill to ratify a long-delayed trade agreement reached with European leaders last week. The legislation, which was passed by the House of Commons with an overwhelming majority of 448 votes, averted the possibility of a damaging no-deal exit from the bloc at the eleventh hour. Peers then gave the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill an unopposed third reading before it was announced at 12.25am on Thursday morning that the legislation had been granted royal assent, officially signing the UK-EU deal into law. NHS employees, care staff and charity workers are [at the forefront of this year’s new year honours list](. Among the famous names to receive gongs this year, seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and cinematographer Roger Deakins were both given knighthoods, while there was a damehood for actor Sheila Hancock - who said she felt “slightly miscast”. In politics, the former Conservative attorney general Geoffrey Cox received a knighthood, despite causing controversy in 2019 by advising the government it was legal to prorogue parliament - a move later ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. However, the famous names were overshadowed by people who stepped up to respond to the Covid-19 crisis. Some 65 per cent of recipients - including NHS staff and those looking out for the wellbeing of frontline workers - were given awards for outstanding work in their community. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [France to mobilise 100,000 police to stop New Year’s Eve parties]( [UK temperatures to plunge below -5C in ‘bitterly cold’ end to 2020]( [Antibiotic-filled US meat ‘may impair UK drugs for cancer and infections’]( . Your trusted guide through a changing world Subscribe to Independent Premium for unrivalled clarity [Get 3 months for £3]( . More news - [Brexit's choice for EU, UK: firm friends or nearby rivals]( - [Heroes and villains of 2020: How the human spirit didn’t just rise, it soared]( - [Editorial: The Brexit deal vote is the start of another long process – not the end]( - [Canada to require negative test for people entering country]( - [Jeremy Hunt scolded for attire while appearing in Commons virtually]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.