National lockdown from Wednesday, 6 January

From Wednesday, 6 January 2021, the UK is in a national lockdown due to a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases.

You must stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus. You can only leave your home if it’s necessary, for example:

• to shop for basic necessities for you or a vulnerable person
• to go to work (including voluntary or charitable work) if you can’t reasonably work from home
• to exercise outside with your household, support bubble, or one other person (you can do this once a day, and you should stay in your local area)
• to meet your support or childcare bubble (if you are legally allowed to form one)
• to get medical care or avoid illness, injury or the risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
• to attend education or childcare if you are eligible (primary schools, secondary schools and colleges are only open for vulnerable children and the children of key workers).

For more detailed information about what you can and cannot do during lockdown, visit the government’s website.

Hospital appointments

We are still open and caring for critically ill patients. If you have an appointment during lockdown, please make sure you attend unless we contact you to reschedule it.