They will continue to prioritise urgent and long waiting cases, where possible, but I agree that it is very worrying. I must admit, I thought the worst was over.
The elephant in the room is that the UK is an unhealthy & ageing country - 65% are overweight, essentially due to poor diet & lack of exercise - alcohol consumption is high (nearly a million hospital admissions were booze related in 2020) & nearly a fifth of the population are over 65. Social care quite frankly isn't fit for purpose & the infrastructure to deal with the sick isn't far behind - the lack of an ambulance service is bordering on a scandal & getting a GP or dental appointment is a lottery. Maybe if we'd addressed the above (and I know hindsight is a wonderful thing) Covid wouldn't have dragged this country into a hole it will take decades to recover from. I took a look at the ONS data whilst I was typing this...I'll let you come to your own conclusions. It's a bit of a read but well presented IMO. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/coronaviruscovid19latestinsights/Overview
In the meantime I'll continue to wait for my skin cancer surgery that is now 12 weeks late & a dental referral I should have had 8 months ago...thank Christ for Codeine.
Personally I haven't had a problem getting GP and nurse/nurse practitioner appointments at our surgery, but the nurse practitioner who I saw about a skin lesion that I was worried about seemed extremely pleased when I told him that my employer pays for private medical insurance so I wouldn't have to go on the NHS waiting list. I did ask whether I would be seen on the NHS within the 18 weeks "maximum" and he seemed quite uncomfortable to be asked and said he couldn't give me an estimate. It must be very difficult for the individuals who want to do the best they can for their patients but are stymied by the system and lack of funding.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
It's odd, to me at least, the different ways surgeries are giving the Covid and flu jabs. I had my Covid jab then had to wait in a queue for my flu jab. Wait of about 15 minutes. My brother-in-law was given both at the same time so no waiting around. My sister-in-law had a text telling her she was due the booster but when she tried to book was told they aren't doing her age group yet.
Getting appointments at our GP surgery is a lottery. My wife has been having blood tests on a regular basis for a few months. She had the last ones on Monday. Tuesday had a call to say there had been a problem and they need to do another set. First appointment nearly 3 weeks away. So much for the tests needing to be done on a regular basis.
Who is eligible for a booster this Autumn in the Uk? My daughter says that the NHS web site says over 65's but Government site says over 50's. She is in her fifties and hasn't had one since last December!
Posts
Social care quite frankly isn't fit for purpose & the infrastructure to deal with the sick isn't far behind - the lack of an ambulance service is bordering on a scandal & getting a GP or dental appointment is a lottery. Maybe if we'd addressed the above (and I know hindsight is a wonderful thing) Covid wouldn't have dragged this country into a hole it will take decades to recover from.
I took a look at the ONS data whilst I was typing this...I'll let you come to your own conclusions. It's a bit of a read but well presented IMO.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/coronaviruscovid19latestinsights/Overview
In the meantime I'll continue to wait for my skin cancer surgery that is now 12 weeks late & a dental referral I should have had 8 months ago...thank Christ for Codeine.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border