![Covid-19 – NHS waits at record high](https://chadlaw.dnsupdate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GettyImages-844400552-724x388.jpg)
16
Mar 2021
Covid-19 – NHS waits at record high
New figures released by NHS England show that the Covid surge in January hit key services including cancer and routine surgery. Less than 50 per cent of the expected number of operations were undertaken, pushing the waiting list to a record-high of 4.6m.
Over 300,000 of those on the list have been waiting for over a year for treatment, compared to 1,600 before the start of the pandemic. Surgeons have described it as a dire situation, which would take a long time to turnaround.
Tim Mitchell of the Royal College of Surgeons, said “Behind today’s statistics are people waiting in limbo. Many will be in considerable pain, others will have restricted mobility and be at risk of isolation and loneliness. Dealing with this daunting backlog will take time, and also sustained investment in the NHS.”
The NHS Confederation has warned that the true picture could be significantly worse, with up to six million fewer GP referrals in England for routine treatments, including hip and knee replacements, last year, which suggested there was an additional hidden backlog.
Although the numbers of patients starting cancer treatment and being referred for urgent check-ups returned to pre-pandemic levels in the autumn, the data for January showed a drop in numbers for the first time since the first wave – just under 23,000 patients started treatment, compared to nearly 27,500 in January last year.
Chief executive of Cancer Research UK Michelle Mitchell, said “While it’s positive that urgent referrals did not plummet as they did in the first wave, these January figures show that the pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on cancer patients.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.
Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 7382
- Like this ? Share with friends