Matt Hancock tonight said there will be no immediate change the law to protect doctors from legal action over Covid-19 treatment decisions made under the pressures of the pandemic.
A coalition of health bodies wrote to the Government urging it to update legislation to ensure medical workers do not feel vulnerable to the risk of prosecution for unlawful killing when treating coronavirus patients in circumstances beyond their control .
But the Health Secretary said it was not necessary to change the law as medics were not yet being forced to make such critical decisions.
Health groups, including the British Medical Association, argued there was no legal protection for Covid-related issues, such as when there are surges in demand for resources that temporarily exceed supply .
Matt Hancock says vaccination drive is a full seven-day service despite apparent drop in numbers at weekends - with health chiefs blaming data lag for dip amid calls to increase to 24/7 delivery
321,951 people received dose of Oxford or Pfizer vaccine on Thursday - followed by 328,260 on Friday
Figures - which include first and second doses - then drop to 280,390 on Saturday and 227,972 on Sunday
Public Health England today blamed the lower figures on reporting delays over the weekend
Matt Hancock insisted the rollout was a full seven-day service with the Government prepared to go 24/7
Five people were arrested in London for breaching Covid restrictions as protestors carrying Black Lives Matter signs demonstrated in Parliament Sqaure following the death of a 24-year-old man.
Mohamud Mohammed Hassan was arrested on Friday evening last week after reports of a disturbance at his home but was released the following morning without charge.
He was found dead at the same property later on Saturday evening, with his family claiming he had been assaulted while in custody.
Five people were arrested in London for breaching Covid restrictions as protestors carrying Black Lives Matter signs demonstrated in Parliament Sqaure
The group, which police described as a small gathering , took to the streets in Parliament Square to protest the death of Mohamud Mohammed Hassan