NHS Providers Report: A Pessimistic Forecast for 2018/2019
On-going under-funding of the NHS along with increasing demand and staff shortages have seen the service failing to meet government-set targets for waiting times referrals and A & E provision.
Government Funding
Following calls for greater, more planned and sustainable funding from a wide range of organisations and politicians, including the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Prime Minister has promised to engage in producing a long-term funding plan to address the issues facing the health service.
Her announcement has been widely applauded.
New NHS Report: A Tough Task
However, in the meantime, a new report from the NHS itself has offered a pessimistic outlook for the UK's health service and its ability to meet government targets over the coming 12 months.
Entitled 'Tough Task', and complied by NHS Providers, the report identifies the problems the health service is likely to encounter in trying to provide a comprehensive, effective and efficient service to the UK's population.
A & E Waiting Times
The report notes that, despite previous government targets, NHS waiting times have actually deteriorated, with many trusts only achieving an 85% performance of dealing with patients within the 4-hour waiting time target. The report predicts that during 2018-19 3.6 million patients in A & E will not be seen within that timeframe. Only 5% of NHS trusts have predicted that they will be able to achieve the required waiting times.
Surgery Delays
Over half of trusts are also concerned that they are unlikely to meet the demands of their surgery lists without extending the delays in undertaking operations.
Indications from the pressure of the 2017 - 2018 winter crisis in the NHS do not offer much hope as thousands of procedures were postponed in January in order to cope with increased demand.
Staffing
Staff shortages across the NHS are being reported in a wide range of capacities including the following:
- Nurses
- Midwives
- Ambulance staff
- GPs
- Care staff
Proposals for Change
The 'Tough Task' report makes several proposals to try to address what it regards as a significant disparity between what the government asks of the NHS and what is realistic and feasible.
It makes a number of broad proposals summarised below:
- Change the NHS planning process to include representatives from frontline organisations
- Ensure targets and demands reflect a changing context, include achievable timeframes and allow for emergency scenarios
- Appropriate funding matches the demands
- A short-term plan to tackle immediate issues such as staff shortages
Impact on patients
Increasing waiting times in A & E delayed surgery and staff shortages all impact on the quality of care received by patients.
If you or a loved one have suffered significantly due to a failing in medical care, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
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