BMA calls for ‘credible plan’ to tackle backlog

Doctors have called for a ‘credible plan’ and extra investment for the NHS to help the millions of patients who missed out on life-saving tests and treatment at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Analysis by the British Medical Association has revealed the ‘hidden impact’ of the crisis and the struggle many face to tackle the backlog built up as social distancing remains in place, which the association argues highlights the need for government to make an honest assessment of the backlog and come up with a plan and investment to support the NHS and its staff.

The report, The hidden impact of COVID-19 on patient care in the NHS in England, estimates that millions of appointments and admissions were postponed or cancelled during the peak of the crisis in April, May, and June. It estimates that there were up to 1.5 million fewer elective admissions than would usually be expected during those three months – and up to 2.6 million fewer outpatient attendances. During the same period, as many as 25,900 fewer patients started their first cancer treatments following a decision it was needed.

BMA council chair Chaand Nagpaul said: “This analysis adds to an already compelling body of evidence that the NHS has been left with an even larger mountain to climb. Even before Covid-19 struck, the service was underfunded, woefully understaffed, and with inadequate capacity – a lack brought even further into relief by the pandemic.”

According to a BMA survey, 19 per cent of doctors don’t expect GP consultations to reach full capacity until between three and 12 months’ time if there are no further spikes in coronavirus cases. One in ten respondents expect it will take longer than a year for full capacity to return to outpatient departments – or that it may never be reached again. Furthermore, 56 per cent said emergency care had either already returned to capacity or would do so within three months.

Nagpaul said: “After months of exhausting themselves under huge pressure and having risked or lost their own lives, many now face a huge battle to deal with the hidden costs of this unprecedented strain on NHS resources. Ministers should take the opportunity to re-think the resource levels of our health service.

“We’ve warned for years that the NHS lacked the finances and workforce to operate – without a major epidemic or its aftermath to deal with. Now is the time for a rescue package that will get the NHS back on its feet and put it on a firm footing for the future, one in which staff are properly supported and services are fully funded.”