In August, figures released by the NHS showed 5.45 million people were expected to start treatment in late June, the highest number since records began in 2007. Health Secretary Sajid Javid previously had admitted that the backlog of patients for the NHS could reach 13 million after the coronavirus pandemic which pushed up the waiting list.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, admitted that an investment gap could force the overburdened health service to cut services.
He said: ‘Trust executives are concerned that anything below £ 10bn next year will force them to cut services.
“They fear that, despite all efforts on the front lines, the waiting list of 13 million they desperately want to avoid will become inevitable.
“And this backlog will take five to seven years, not two to three, to resolve.”
Speaking to the Guardian, Mr Taylor insisted that anything below £ 10bn could have a direct impact on patients.
He added to the outlet: “They are concerned that they will not be able to provide fast, high quality and safe care to all who need it because the pressure we have seen in ambulance trusts and A&E departments this summer will get worse and more widespread. over a greater part of the year.
“They fear that all of the advances in mental health over the past decade will be reversed.
“And they are concerned that any improvements made in the NHS long-term plan in areas like cancer and heart care are at risk.”
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Mr Javid said in July he was “shocked” that the NHS waiting list could reach 13 million after officials warned him against lifting all Covid restrictions in England.
He told the Sunday Telegraph: “What shocked me the most was when I was told the waiting list was going to get worse before it got better.
“It’s gone from 3.5 million to 5.3 million today, and I told the officials, so what do you mean by ‘much worse’, thinking it might go down from 5, 3 million to six million, seven million. They said no, it’s going to increase by the millions … it could go up to 13 million.
“Hearing that 13 million figure absolutely focused my mind, and it will be one of my top priorities to deal with because we can’t have it.”
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Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, also told the Guardian the government needs to invest more in the NHS after Covid
He added: “The government has said we have to learn to ‘live with Covid’.
“This means they need to fully recognize the extent, duration and cost of the impact of Covid-19 on the NHS. “
In response, a government spokesperson said: ‘We are committed to making sure the NHS has everything it needs to continue providing excellent health care to the public as we tackle the backlogs that have built up during the pandemic.
“This year alone we have already provided an additional £ 29bn to support health and care services, including an additional £ 1bn to tackle the backlog.”
September 1 saw 35,693 new cases and 207 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test across the UK.
In the week ending August 27, the seven-day average of new cases was 327.3 per 100,000 people.
In total, the UK has recorded 6,825,074 cases and 132,742 deaths from the virus.
38,596 first doses and 117,437 second doses of coronavirus vaccine were administered on Tuesday.
A total of 48,068,605 first doses and 42,908,022 second doses were administered, ie 88.5% and 78.9% of the population over 16 years of age, respectively.
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This notice was published: 2021-09-02 14:31:57
