In the shadow of #Covid19: How your NHS will be transformed with millions left waiting in pain, expanded use of private hospitals and care rationed.
Read my special report for @Independent here: independent.co.uk/news/health/co…
Read my special report for @Independent here: independent.co.uk/news/health/co…
"We are losing 15-20% of our bed base as a consequence of #Covid19. Overall as a trust we are looking at 60% of our pre-Covid capacity" - One NHS chief describes the impact of Covid precautions in their hospital as trusts take out beds to create distancing space
The threat of #COVID19 in NHS hospitals is not just a theoretical risk, SAGE minutes show transmission within the NHS was a major issue during the outbreak:
Several hospitals said they were slimming down 6-bed bays to four and taking out at least 1 bed from each 4-bed bay. The hardest hit were NHS trusts in older buildings, with narrow corridors and a lack of single rooms.
One chief said: “We can’t run like we have in the past."
One chief said: “We can’t run like we have in the past."
@gooroohealth told @Independent it was "reasonable to assume during shutdown that waiting times are rising by one week, every week" and warned it could take until 2024 to recover with some areas taking longer.
"There is always pain...it's like an elephant has a stiletto-heeled shoe on and is standing on my hip" - Steve Cassidy, from Poole whose hip op was delayed by #COVID19
NHS waiting lists aren't just numbers.
NHS waiting lists aren't just numbers.
