Commenting on the latest weekly sitrep data released today (16 January) by NHS England, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The latest weekly data from NHS England highlights how hospitals are “jampacked” but this should really be described as “overflowing” given the fact many patients will be receiving care in chairs and corridors.
“Politicians and senior leaders have put much focus in recent weeks on the impact of flu and flu admissions are down from their peak, but this line has also acted as a smokescreen to the fundamental problems.
“The only solutions to the eternal – and increasingly worse – problems in the NHS are to address the issues of capacity, workforce and social care, and to realise there will be no elective care recovery without a recovery in urgent and emergency care.”