By NHS issues warning ahead of ‘Brutal Easter’
According to reports, NHS leaders are warning that the health service is facing a tough Easter period, compared to being as bad as most winters.
The latest data shows record wait times for surgery and A&E, with a backlog off the back of the pandemic that continues to grow.
Hospitals from Liverpool to West Yorkshire have reportedly posted warnings online asking the public to consider whether it’s necessary to attend A&E.
The health service allegedly published its recovery plan that pledged to treat every patient that has been waiting for over two years, by July.
A department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We know the NHS has been under unprecedented pressure- that’s why we set out our plan to tackle the Covid backlog and deliver long-term recovery and reform, backed by our record multi-billion-pound investment”.
“This will deliver new surgical hubs and up to 160 community diagnostic centres across the country to help patients get the surgery they need and earlier access to tests”.
Hospitals are also said to be seen a rising number of people coming forward for other conditions, including flu.
Similar levels of diverts and delays have been seen every week since the turn of the year.
The current delays being seen at A&E departments are worse than those seen in the winter before the pandemic hit, which was considered the most challenging winter for many years.
Saffron Cordery, of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said: “We’re very concerned about the real pressures across the whole health and care system.
“A very high number of hospital beds are occupied, and combined with staff absences and severe workforce shortages, this means that trusts can’t recover care backlogs as quickly as they want to.
“Ambulance services are doing everything they can in these extremely difficult circumstances, but the extra pressures are leading to growing delays in handovers to busy emergency departments.
“This means that ambulances aren’t able to get back out into the community as quickly as they would like.”
