Ahead of the publication of monthly NHS performance statistics on
Thursday 12th August, the chief executive of NHS
Providers, , said:
“Tomorrow’s NHS performance statistics are expected to show that
every part of the health service is under huge pressure, despite
the lower levels of COVID-19 hospital cases compared to
predictions a month ago.
“Trust leaders are clear that, to measure the full extent of
current pressure on the NHS, it’s vital to look at the full range
of demand and staffing pressures, not just the COVID caseload
“Trust leaders say they are currently dealing with a very
difficult combination of six different pressures all at once.
“First, they’re recovering care backlogs at full pelt but going
at this speed inevitably puts pressure on staff, beds and
equipment.
“Alongside this, hospital trusts are working with much lower bed
capacity because of continuing enhanced infection control
measures. This is major challenge given the NHS didn’t have
enough beds before the pandemic started.
“Staffing levels have now become a critical issue for many
trusts.
“Third, trust leaders say they still have large numbers of staff
self-isolating. Whilst the changes announced to help the NHS in
mid-July have had some effect, the impact has not been anywhere
near as big as predicted or hoped for. Trusts cannot wait for the
further changes to self- isolation rules on August 16.
“Fourth, trusts are now in peak summer leave period, with more
leave being taken than normal, where possible, because of leave
that couldn’t be taken in earlier waves of COVID.
“Fifth, demand for urgent & emergency care is exceeding the
levels we saw before the COVID-19 pandemic. The pressure varies
from trust to trust but some trusts, for example, those in
holiday hotspots are being particularly hard hit and some have
seen their highest ever levels of urgent care demand over the
last few weeks.
“Finally, although the 5,000 COVID-19 patients we’ve seen in
hospital over the last fortnight is lower than many were
predicting, it’s still a significant pressure, particularly in
hospitals with high bed occupancy for other reasons. For example,
the higher level of emergency admissions many trusts are seeing
and the pressure on beds from backlog recovery.
“What’s particularly striking is how busy all parts of the NHS
are – hospitals, community and mental health services, GPs and
primary care.
“There is a particular concern about the unprecedented pressure
on ambulance services, the fact that this has lasted for a number
of weeks, and the impact this is having on both staff and
patients.
“We now have some trust Chief Executives, particularly in the
ambulance sector, telling us that this is now the busiest it has
ever been”.
