The intense pressure on the NHS in recent weeks has left hospitals unable to cope, patients at risk and staff in despair
I’ve worked in the NHS for over 10 years and I’ve never known it as bad as it is now. A&Es are swamped and primary care is swamped too. It’s a very sorry of state for all concerned. The last few weeks have been beyond dreadful and it was all predicted by those on the ground months ago.
Before Covid our emergency department could handle 30 patients at a time but “flex” that number up to 50 if need be. During Covid we expanded the number of bedded cubicles and went up from 14 to 23 standard beds and from three up to seven resuscitation spaces.
