Stourbridge

Military personnel are now assisting medical staff in a number of hospitals in the West Midlands, including in Shropshire and at the University Hospital North Midlands trust in Stoke-on-Trent.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Members of the military drafted in to work in Shropshire’s hospitals are covering for health care assistants after staff shortages meant roles across the Princess Royal, in Telford, and the Royal Shrewsbury were being left uncovered on the rota.

Army personnel are also expected to start work at NHS trusts in Birmingham and the Black Country.

At a regional Covid-19 update on Friday, Prof David Loughton, chief executive of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, confirmed the military would again be supporting the region's NHS, as they did with their "absolutely pivotal role" early in the pandemic.

He said: "There will be military personnel arriving next week within my organisation and they will be working under the supervision of senior clinicians and nursing teams and carrying out a variety of duties.

"I believe that is similar across the West Midlands conurbation."

People who have received a coronavirus vaccination are being urged to be cautious and not change their behaviour.

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

Prof Janet Lord, the director of the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at Birmingham University, said it was "really important that people stay on their guard even if they've had that first vaccination".

Asked whether people who have received the jab can hug their children, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I would certainly advise not to do that at the moment because, as you probably know, with the vaccines they take several weeks before they are maximally effective."

She also warned against the idea of a coronavirus immunity passport until more is known about transmission of the virus among those who have been vaccinated.

Spells of prolonged and heavy rain are set to cause travel disruption across the West Midlands, the Met Office is warning.

Met OfficeCopyright: Met Office

Homes and businesses are also at risk of flooding, it said.

The wet weather is expected to affect the region from late on Tuesday into early Thursday as Storm Christoph affects the UK.

A yellow warning has been issued.

It will be a mild and cloudy day with brisk southwesterly winds and a few showers before heavier rain moves in later, with highs of 11°C (52°F).

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It'll be bright at times this morning but will turn mainly cloudy for most parts of the West Midlands later on. It will be mostly dry and breezy with a high of 7C (45F).

BBC Weather Watcher Billington_PhotoCopyright: BBC Weather Watcher Billington_Photo

This evening it should stay cloudy and breezy with some showers moving in from the south west. The rain will turn persistent in the first half of tonight before easing. Low: 6C (43F).

You can stay up-to-date with the latest weather forecast for your area by going to the BBC Weather website.