Rise in urgent cases worries hospitals
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Health service leaders yesterday called for an urgent meeting with Stephen Dorrell, Secretary of State for Health, over concerns about the rising trend in emergency admissions to hospitals. The National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts wants to make clear the "tremendous pressures" that mounting admissions are putting on health trusts.
A recent study for Nahat and the British Association of Medical Managers found emergencies have risen by 14 per cent in three years. It predicts that this is a long-term trend.
"There is no getting away from the fact that, overall, the trend is likely to continue upwards," the Nahat newsletter, published today, said.
The study concluded that the increase of 14 per cent is caused by a variety of factors. These include the fact that patients are older and therefore frailer; there are more cases of certain illnesses and conditions (such as hip replacements and cataracts); and patients have higher expectations of the health service.
Family doctors were said to feel less able, or less willing, to cope with seriously ill patients in the community and families are less able to look after their relatives when they are ill.
Some of the solutions recommended were that health policy makers, doctors and managers ought to work together to ensure they fully understand the causes of the difficulties, that all parts of the health and care system work together, and that there is careful monitoring of the need for acute and elective beds.
"The NHS is very much in the spotlight over its capacity to deal with this increase and staff are working very hard to deal with the immediate pressures.
"There is little doubt that what is needed is a concerted effort by doctors, managers, ministers to tackle this issue and to come to a better understanding of the position overall," a spokeswoman said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments