Some patients are being treated in corridors, and ambulances queue outside hospitals to take patients to emergency departments, while doctors and nurses struggle to get patients out amid a shortage of staff and beds.
Public Health England is looking to start releasing thousands of patients from hospital in the next few weeks in a bid to provide much-needed beds during one of the toughest winters on record.
The state-run health service provides free care to the entire population and was until recently a source of pride for many Britons. The health system is under pressure after years of relative decline in investments, the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the strike of essential health workers over wages.
Some patients are being treated in corridors, and ambulances queue outside hospitals to take patients to emergency departments, while doctors and nurses struggle to get patients out amid a shortage of staff and beds.
In a statement, the government said it would provide up to 200 million pounds ($242 million) of additional funding available in England to buy short-term care spaces to allow out-of-hospital care for patients deemed mild by doctors, and 50 million pounds to improve facilities. existing.
The statement did not say whether the NHS in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would also put more money into care beds.
The aim of getting some patients elsewhere is to revive a method used by NHS England during the pandemic when hospitals sought to make as many beds as possible for COVID-19 patients.
“The public health system is facing tremendous pressure from Covid and influenza, and in addition to tackling the backlog caused by the pandemic, Strep A and upcoming strikes, this winter presents a huge challenge,” Steve Barclay, Minister of Health, said in the statement.
Barclay will address parliament on Monday to outline further measures to reduce pressure on the health system.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said last week that reducing hospital waiting lists is one of his five priorities for Britain this year. He said achieving this goal may take longer than some other goals.
Health services statistics showed that more than nine out of every 10 hospital beds were occupied in the week preceding the new year, with patients whose medical condition allowed them to be discharged, occupying 13,000 beds per day.
