A continuum of perfect storms: the winter forecast for urgent care in the NHS remains bleak

Each winter in the past decade has become slightly worse,2 and that trend, which has not been reversed, has resulted in a dire situation that may not yet have reached its nadir. Excess mortality rates and increasing numbers of patients waiting more than 12 hours in emergency departments illustrate t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBMJ (Online) Vol. 384; p. q11
Main Author Cooksley, Tim
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 03.01.2024
BMJ Publishing Group LTD
Subjects
Ambulatory Care
Emergency medical care
Humans
Opinion
Seasons
State Medicine
Workforce
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Summary:Each winter in the past decade has become slightly worse,2 and that trend, which has not been reversed, has resulted in a dire situation that may not yet have reached its nadir. Excess mortality rates and increasing numbers of patients waiting more than 12 hours in emergency departments illustrate the problem.3 The solutions are not easy, nor are they quick to implement, and it will take at least a decade to return to the delivery of high quality acute care. The demand for acute care will continue to rise for the foreseeable future.5 The long term workforce plan desperately needs the support of a long term pay structure, which alongside clinical and capacity plans will be essential to rebuild the NHS.
Bibliography:SourceType-Other Sources-1
content type line 63
ObjectType-Editorial-2
ObjectType-Commentary-1
ISSN:1756-1833
1756-1833
DOI:10.1136/bmj.q11