Thread by @drfrocester

Why is the NHS failing? A 🧵

This is shocking but entirely predictable.
"higher demand and planned reduced facilities"

Please read, share AND ask your MP why they have let this happen and how they will save it?

1. There are simply not enough beds
Unbelievably total hospital beds has HALVED over the last 30 years (source Kings Fund)
UK has one of the lowest acute beds/popln than ANYWHERE in the World (Source FT)
Hospitals can't increase beds w/o government agreement which doesn't happen

2. The population is growing
Predictably UK population has grown year on year
Increasing by 11 million over the last 30 years (source ONS from economics.help)
In 15 years ONS predicts this will be 75 million (no planned inc in beds btw.)

3. The population is ageing at alarming rate
Older pts are proportionally greatest users of NHS
They have increasingly complex needs & medical problems therefore longer hospital stays
By 2035 44% popln will be over 65
They have paid all their lives into the NHS & deserve better.

4. Numerous care homes & community hospitals have been closed
This means older & vulnerable patients have no safe place to go from hospital - therefore stay in acute hospital beds for weeks
25-30% of ALL hospital beds are occupied by patients "medically fit for discharge"

So a vastly larger and older population served by much fewer acute hospital beds. The consequences of which were predictable and government warned about repeatedly.
A poorly flowing system is destined to fail - signs have been there with crisis after crisis

The consequences are numerous and all result in harm
1. Ambulances held in ED - unable to respond to 999
2. Long waits (days!) in ED with inadequate treatment
3. Conflict between pt's & staff
4. Overcrowding on wards & ED
5. No beds for elective operations
6. Low staff morale

However if that wasn't enough - the perfect storm is catalysed by
1. Rapid increase in respiratory illness (Flu A epidemic)
2. Primary Care crisis - GP shortage, intolerable working conditions
3. Relative pay reduction for staff eroding morale, increasing vacancies
4. Brexit

This is our NHS.
This isn't just money or a winter crisis - we need a 10y plan of how we expand in line with the population needs.
We will fight for it but we need the power of the people to demand the government make the NHS it's No.1 priority, now.
Please help #saveournhs