Mandatory Covid jabs policy divides NHS leaders in England as deadline nears

Trust chiefs hold conflicting views over compulsory vaccinations, which look set to put staffing of health service under even more pressure

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NHS trust leaders are divided about whether the government should press ahead with mandatory jabs for healthcare workers in England after the prime minister told MPs he was considering relaxing the policy.

About 80,000 frontline NHS workers have still not had a Covid vaccination and have less than two weeks to have their first dose in time to be able to complete the course before the 1 April deadline.