"These figures show just how dangerous the situation is getting across our NHS hospitals. Wards and emergency departments were full to start with but now a surging flu virus could soon overwhelm them. With the peak not even here yet and corridor care already rife across the NHS, nursing staff are deeply worried about how they will maintain the safety and dignity of patients. We're clear that treating people in unsafe, non-clinical areas like corridors, store cupboards and offices is not an acceptable response. Ministers need to act to protect patients this winter."
"Outbreaks of flu can be a challenge, but they should not de-rail the service. The reality however is a sustained lack of investment in both nursing staff and beds has impacted the ability of the NHS to safely deal with increases in demand, while a similar failure to build nursing capacity in the community, primary care and social care means vulnerable people remain stuck in hospital, severely impacting bed availability."
The H3N2 'superflu' strain is causing a sharp rise in hospital admissions across the UK, pushing flu rates to the highest recorded for this time of year. Norovirus hospital cases have increased by 35%, with an average of 354 patients per day last week. Wards, emergency departments and non-clinical areas are experiencing corridor care and overcrowding that threaten patient safety and dignity. A sustained lack of investment in nursing staff and hospital beds has reduced capacity to absorb sudden increases in demand. Insufficient nursing capacity in community, primary care and social care is causing discharge delays and blocking beds. Urgent government investment in hospital staffing, bed capacity, community services and social care is required to ease pressure.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]