Junior doctors in England have commenced a four-day strike over pay, leading to an estimated 350,000 cancelled appointments, including operations. The British Medical Association (BMA) members will picket outside hospitals from 7am until Saturday morning in the longest industrial action since last year’s strike by other health workers. The NHS Confederation’s CEO, Matthew Taylor, has urged both sides to end their “battle of rhetoric” as patient care is “very fragile” during the stoppage. NHS England’s National Medical Director, Prof Sir Stephen Powis, added that “cover is very fragile” and the public should use services wisely as routine care would be affected.

New study finds high dose tofacitinib is safe and effective in COVID patients with pneumonitis and may prevent deterioration to respiratory failure. Open-labelled study with 116 patients, 15.5% of tofacitinib group progressed to non-invasive ventilation, compared to 29.3% in control group. Published in European Journal of Clinical Investigation.

New study finds high dose tofacitinib is safe and effective in COVID patients with pneumonitis and may prevent deterioration to respiratory failure. Open-labelled study with 116 patients, 15.5% of tofacitinib group progressed to non-invasive ventilation, compared to 29.3% in control group. Published in European Journal of Clinical Investigation.