Steve Barclay asserts that a combination of high cases and concerns about Strep A has led to “huge pressures.” Whereas health experts believe that “structural problems” must be addressed.
The health secretary attributed the “huge burden” the NHS faced during the holiday season. To the high incidence of influenza, COVID, and Strep A fears.
Several trusts have disclosed catastrophic occurrences in recent days. And ambulances have waited hours outside hospitals before transferring their patients. As the government faces increasing questions regarding its response to the winter crisis.
Steve Barclay responded “no” when asked if the situation was acceptable. But attributed it to “a combination of very high rates of flu, persistent. And high levels of COVID, continuing concerns among many parents regarding Strep A. As well as primary care services, such as GPs, being closed for Christmas.
The health secretary attributed
After several health leaders raised worries about the “terrible and intolerable” state of the NHS, he made his statements.
Dr. Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said that the so-called “twindemic” of influenza. And COVID was a contributing factor. But he added, “The fundamental problem remains a significant shortage of workforce. Resulting in woefully inadequate inpatient bed and social care capacity.”
Current levels of employee burnout and low morale significantly exacerbate this problem.
Earlier, the official spokesman for the prime minister stated that the government had informed the public “far in advance of this winter”. That it would be “particularly hard” in the NHS due to the aftermath of the epidemic and the resulting backlog of cases.
NHS England today and during the holiday break
However, Dr. Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, stated that it was “disingenuous to blame the current situation on the epidemic”. And that “the structural problems existed long before the outbreak.”
Mr. Barclay stated that he had met with NHS England today and during the holiday break to discuss their operational plans. With a focus on addressing “delayed discharges” – patients in hospital beds who are fit to go home.
“This is the issue we must confront,” he remarked. “Because we need to increase the flow into the hospital system to free up that backend. So that ambulances may speed up their handover times and discharge patients.”
When asked about Dr. Boyle’s claims from earlier this week that A&E delays could be causing 500 deaths per week. The health secretary again placed the blame on the pandemic, citing operation backlogs and people’s “reluctance to visit GPs” during the lockdown. Which has resulted in more serious cases being reported now.
Mr. Barclay stated that the government was “focused the funding on the operations backlogs” instead. And “enhancing” services to free up beds when pressed on the issue of vacancies and why he wouldn’t authorize larger pay raises for nurses. One of the causes of two more planned strikes this month.
However, he stated that it will “take time” for the extra cash to enter the system.
In recent days, opposition parties have criticized the government for inaction. With the Liberal Democrats calling for a recall of parliament to debate the matter.
Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary for the Labour Party, has also accused the Conservatives of “mismanagement” of the NHS.
