NHS lacks bed and staff to handle coronavirus

The Independent has warned that senior doctors and nurses believe that the NHS lacks the beds, staffing and resources to cope with a serious outbreak of the coronavirus.

According to the newspaper, NHS staff from across the country warned hospitals are already unable to cope, with patients being looked after in spill-over wards and waiting hours for a bed, with one doctor saying it was already a ‘one in, one out mentality’ for intensive care. This is in addition to the rationing of protective masks and equipment, and a lack of isolation areas for suspected coronavirus patients.

The British Association of Critical Care Nurses labelled Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s claim that the NHS would use ‘home ventilation kits’ and that an extra 5,000 intensive care beds could be created as ‘fanciful’.

Nicki Credland, who chairs the association, said: “If you already have a system running at 100 per cent capacity, the idea you can get a significant amount of additional beds is just not realistic. There simply aren’t enough beds for them. We will need to make difficult decisions about which patients are going to be admitted to intensive care. The general public have a right to the truth. It will be a real ethical dilemma for staff. We will need to make difficult decisions about which patients are going to be admitted to intensive care.”

This follows comments from the Intensive Care Society, which told The Independent that there was a potential for ‘disparity’ between hospitals in their ability to expand critical care services with larger units better able to weather any impact.

An A&E doctors revealed that there is ‘genuine apprehension about how unprepared we are’, going on to say that ‘it really wouldn’t take very many cases needing hospital treatment to have the system crumbling’.

A spokesperson for NHS England said: “As the chief medical officer has said, as coronavirus expands, the NHS will flex its response in line with well-established escalation plans. Hospitals have been advised on what next steps they need to take to respond to any outbreak.

“Hardworking staff are working round the clock to test and treat patients with coronavirus but the public can also play their part by following health advice, including washing their hands and covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze. If anyone is worried about symptoms, they can use the new 111 online service for help and advice on coronavirus.”