A new report by the BBC has identified that NHS targets are increasingly being missed as pressures on the service mount.
Last week, Nottingham University Hospitals Trust issued a critical black alert due to the pressures on its Accident and Emergency services.
In the summer, when the pressure on the NHS might be expected to be lower, the Royal Cornwall Hospital also declared a ‘critical incident’ due to pressures. The public was asked to avoid using the Accident and Emergency Service and staff were asked to work extra hours.
Hospitals are struggling due to increased demand at the same time as continuing staff shortages. There are currently approximately 40,000 nursing vacancies in the NHS in England.
The BBC analysis of NHS data noted three worrying trends over the past few years:
• The percentage of people treated or admitted within the 4-hour target time is the lowest since the targets were introduced.
• The percentage of patients commencing treatment for cancer within the target time has not been met for four years
• The wait time for routine care is continuing to increase
The data also showed that the number of people on waiting list has shown an endlessly upward trend over the last five years.
Unfortunately, increasing pressures also increase the chances that patient care will be compromised.
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