NHS running three races at once

10 June 2021


NHS Providers' chief executive Chris Hopson was interviewed this afternoon on Times Radio. Summary comment below:

"One of the consequences of the pandemic has been that a lot of operations were delayed, but it is a very positive sign that the number of people waiting more than 52 weeks has fallen significantly.

"This reflects the huge amount of work going on to tackle the backlog because trust leaders understand only too well the distress and pain that can be caused by these delays.

They are having to run three races at the same time, bearing down on the backlog, coping with increased demand for emergency care and dealing with the continuing threat from COVID-19.

"They are having to run three races at the same time, bearing down on the backlog, coping with increased demand for emergency care and dealing with the continuing threat from COVID-19.

"And don't forget they are doing this with reduced bed numbers because of enhanced infection control measures.

"We understand the government has a really difficult decision to take over COVID-19 restrictions, balancing NHS concerns alongside other factors including the economy and personal freedoms.

"For that reason it's important that the government acknowledges and considers carefully the risks and trade-offs involved in deciding what to do next."