The NHS in England is facing a record backlog of 6 million patients awaiting hospital care, with over 23,000 having waited more than two years. The government's targets to eliminate long waits are increasingly seen as unachievable due to ongoing Covid disruption.
Professor Neil Mortensen, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, confirmed that planned surgery is being cancelled again in various regions due to high staff absences. More than 28,000 NHS staff are off work daily with Covid, while over 20,000 patients are hospitalised with the virus, reducing bed capacity for elective procedures.
Chris Hopson of NHS Providers described a 'triple Covid-related whammy' of staff shortages, high Covid hospitalisations, and delayed discharges affecting social care. Some trusts are operating at 105-108% of pre-Covid activity, but others lag behind, jeopardising the government's pledge to eliminate two-year waits by July and 18-month waits by 2023.
The British Medical Association criticised ministers for failing to grasp the threat, with 87% of doctors surveyed saying backlog targets are unachievable. Dr Chaand Nagpaul accused the government of 'burying its head in the sand' over the virus's impact. A Press Association analysis revealed dozens of patients have waited over three years, with at least nine waiting more than four years.
