Jump to content

New Covid wave could worsen NHS surgery backlog, experts warn


A new wave of coronavirus infections could throw into jeopardy efforts to clear a backlog of surgery in the NHS, experts have warned.

They say the relaxation of Covid restrictions is expected to cause a rise in infections, while at least some resurgence in hospital admissions and deaths is also expected at some point. However, the sharp rise in cases of a variant of concern first discovered in India, B.1.617.2, has caused consternation, with modelling suggesting that if it is as transmissible as some estimates suggest, it could fuel a serious “third wave”.

Now experts have said that a new wave of infections may cause further problems, exacerbating what has already been described as “a truly frightening backlog” of care.

“We are anticipating that as lockdown is eased that cases are going to go back up slightly, that is with or without the Indian variant,” Dr David Strain, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter medical school, told the Guardian. “The biggest concern we’ve got is that if these [Covid case] numbers do start to go up, it will put a strain on trying to get other services up and running.”

“GPs are crying out under the stress at the moment … we still have people not having their operations: we have had procedures postponed for over 12 months, and we have got longer waiting lists that ever before,” he said.

Read full story

Source: The Guardian, 20 May 2021

0 Comments


Recommended Comments

There are no comments to display.


Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...