Thread by @profchrisham

I attended an NHS board meeting yesterday where we discussed the massive pressures facing health and social care

these pressures include record attendances at ED, ambulances waiting outside hospitals with patients, bed shortages, and difficulties in discharging patients when they no longer need to be in hospital

we also heard about work on elective recovery and herculean efforts to cut waiting lists and waiting times, while still caring for Covid patients

outside our hospitals general practices are dealing with record numbers of patients and social care is struggling with staffing shortages and other pressures

all of this continues to take its toll on our staff and we are still seeking to fill vacancies and deal with sickness absences that put even more pressure on staff who are at work

at the end of our board meeting I heard @sajidjavid tell the country that the NHS is coping and no further measures are needed. One of us is living in a parallel universe

last but not least, it is only October and winter pressures from flu, respiratory conditions, and more Covid will grow. what am I missing here?

what's happening in my trust is happening everywhere. Let's get real, be honest and tell it like it is

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