‘Journey of NHS and social care recovery will be long and complicated’ – SAM past president (02 August)

Commenting on NHS data obtained by The Guardian which showed three million people on NHS England waiting lists have had no care since a GP referral, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said:

“This data is a further illustration of the depth of the crisis that the NHS faces. The uncertainty for patients causing psychological strain alongside the physical symptoms of their conditions. These numbers reflect a looming disaster for the Government’s key NHS pledge.

“Many people will require emergency care as the burden of their symptoms and the uncertainty becomes intolerable. There can be no elective recovery without emergency care recovery. The two are dependent and need a coherent, co-ordinated approach that focuses on increasing capacity and workforce throughout the system. 

“Continued prolonged waits for elective procedures and care will inevitably result in increased strain in emergency care with the continuum of patients experiencing the appalling indignity of corridor care.

“Fundamentally, there is insufficient workforce and capacity to meet the demands of an increasingly ageing population with multiple health issues with simply no resilience to cope with any excess strain. 

“The journey of NHS and social care recovery will be long and complicated with much sadness for many people along the way: as loved ones suffer unnecessary harm. It is yet to meaningfully start and the Government’s pledges are doomed to failure unless they accept this.”