Hospitals are trebling the size of their intensive care units and preparing to replace A&E doctors with other specialists as the NHS braces itself for a surge in patients whose life is at risk from the coronavirus.
Millions of patients will have their care delayed as hospitals cancel non-urgent operations, including some surgery for people with heart and lung conditions.
With the prime minister warning that the UK must brace itself for a sharp rise in cases over the coming weeks, hospitals have begun setting up dedicated wards. These include makeshift intensive care beds in operating theatres.
Dr Samantha Batt Rawden, a co-founder of the Doctors’ Association UK, said: “Covid-19 may well be the biggest challenge the NHS has yet to face and will no doubt require extraordinary measures to be taken.
“However we cannot ignore the state that the NHS has been left in by this government. After years of short-staffing our health service is much less equipped to deal with this pandemic whilst continuing to provide care for non-Covid related illness or injury.”
Our full quote to The Guardian:
“COVID-19 may well be the biggest challenge the NHS has yet to face and will no doubt require extraordinary measures to be taken. Whilst we acknowledge that cancelling operations will inevitably cause distress, we support trusts who are doing their best to create intensive care capacity for the very sickest COVID-19 patients.
However we cannot ignore the state that the NHS has been left in by this government. After years of short-staffing our health service much less equipped to deal with this pandemic whilst continuing to provide care for non-COVID related illness or injury. It is now vital that there are plans in place to ensure that those who have their urgent surgery postponed do not suffer pain and distress as secondary victims of COVID-19.”
