ITV's Dr Hillary issues plea over Covid as XEC variant with powerful symptoms sweeps the UK

ok.co.uk:

With colder months approaching and a new strain of Covid on the loose, Dr Hilary Jones has issued a plea to help save lives this winter.The TV doctor, who regularly appears on ITV's Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, spoke out after warnings that the NHS could be facing unprecedented pressures amid rising cases of flu, Covid and RSV.

A British Medical Association report has predicted that more than 7,000 patients will be waiting more than 12 hours in A&E departments, with more than 1,700 fewer fully qualified full-time GPs since 2015.

Now, Dr Hilary is calling for people to test at home if they can. He said: "By testing at home for conditions like flu, cold, or Covid, we can make informed decisions on when to seek professional care and when to manage symptoms safely from home." He added: "This will reduce the pressure on GP practices and emergency services, potentially saving lives by freeing up resources for those who need it most.” It comes amid a rise in cases of the XEC strain of Covid that appears to make people feel worse than some of its predecessors.

Dr Helen Wall cautioned: "Some of the symptoms in the past were more cough and cold symptoms, but at the moment, Covid does seem to be wiping people out." As well as flu and Covid, Dr Hillary has also urged the public to test for other illnesses and conditions at home in a bid to minimise mounting pressures on healthcare services.