As we continue to deal with an increase in Covid-19, hospitals are having to change the way they deliver services. To ensure that women and their babies have the safest birth possible, hospital trusts across North Central London are putting in new measures. Due to the current impact of the pandemic the London Ambulance Service is no longer in a position to guarantee an ambulance response to those women choosing to plan their birth at home, or within one of the capital’s three stand-alone birth centres. Because of this, regrettably the following trusts are temporarily suspending home birth services.

As a turbulent and challenging 2020 draws to a close there is no let-up in the incredible amount of work going on across North Central London to deliver health and care. We are delighted to say that the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine is now underway commencing at the Royal Free Hospital Hub. From this week, five local vaccine services – one in each borough – have come online, with a further six due to come online later in the week. We are prioritising those most vulnerable to Covid-19, in line with national guidance, focussing on vaccinating over 80s, plus frontline care home and NHS staff.

The NHS has planned extensively to deliver the largest vaccination programme in our history. This will be a huge task. The NHS is working closely in partnership with local councils in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington to roll out vaccines when the supplies are available. As part of this, the NHS is recruiting extra people, to ensure they can continue to provide the vital health services that we all rely on.

A feature of North Central London’s partnership working and its response to the first wave of Covid-19 is the way we are successfully working together as a health and social care system to deliver the best care possible to those who need it.