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| How Covid has dealt the NHS a lasting blow | How Covid has dealt the NHS a lasting blow |
| (2 months later) | |
| The NHS in England has more funding and staff than before the pandemic - but in many types of care, it is treating fewer patients. Why? A leading think tank has tried to come up with some answers. | The NHS in England has more funding and staff than before the pandemic - but in many types of care, it is treating fewer patients. Why? A leading think tank has tried to come up with some answers. |
| The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says this is a puzzle with no simple explanation - but the pandemic has dealt a lasting blow to the NHS and it could be costing more to treat patients, on average, than before. | The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says this is a puzzle with no simple explanation - but the pandemic has dealt a lasting blow to the NHS and it could be costing more to treat patients, on average, than before. |
| Despite higher staff sickness rates, compared with pre-pandemic levels, the NHS has available to work: | Despite higher staff sickness rates, compared with pre-pandemic levels, the NHS has available to work: |
| 8% more nurses | 8% more nurses |
| 9% more consultants | 9% more consultants |
| 15% more junior doctors | 15% more junior doctors |
| But - not counting those filled by patients who have tested positive for Covid, even though they may be there mainly for something else - there were 5% fewer beds available in the third quarter of this year than in 2019, the IFS says. The impact of the virus has lasted longer than expected. | But - not counting those filled by patients who have tested positive for Covid, even though they may be there mainly for something else - there were 5% fewer beds available in the third quarter of this year than in 2019, the IFS says. The impact of the virus has lasted longer than expected. |
| It is also harder to discharge medically fit patients because of problems with community care. | It is also harder to discharge medically fit patients because of problems with community care. |
| The NHS backlog: Who are the 7 million? | The NHS backlog: Who are the 7 million? |
| One in eight on hospital waiting list | One in eight on hospital waiting list |
| Backlog of longest-wait patients slashed in England | Backlog of longest-wait patients slashed in England |
| And evidence, such as rising numbers of disability-benefit claimants, suggests there are more ill patients needing complex care. | And evidence, such as rising numbers of disability-benefit claimants, suggests there are more ill patients needing complex care. |
| The latest monthly data shows 4% more GP appointments in England than in the same month in 2019, which is "particularly striking" as the number of fully qualified general practitioners has fallen, the IFS says. | The latest monthly data shows 4% more GP appointments in England than in the same month in 2019, which is "particularly striking" as the number of fully qualified general practitioners has fallen, the IFS says. |
| There were also more first cancer hospital outpatient appointments - but fewer overall and the number of patients treated from the waiting list, currently 7.2 million in England, was down 11%. | There were also more first cancer hospital outpatient appointments - but fewer overall and the number of patients treated from the waiting list, currently 7.2 million in England, was down 11%. |
| The state of NHS finances has been well documented and the report says the real value of the current spending plans has been reduced by inflation. | The state of NHS finances has been well documented and the report says the real value of the current spending plans has been reduced by inflation. |
| Long-term changes | Long-term changes |
| IFS research economist Max Warner says: "The NHS is showing clear signs of strain heading into the winter and is treating fewer patients than it was pre-pandemic, across many types of care. | IFS research economist Max Warner says: "The NHS is showing clear signs of strain heading into the winter and is treating fewer patients than it was pre-pandemic, across many types of care. |
| "The real risk, almost three years on from the start of the pandemic, is that the Covid hit to NHS performance is not time-limited. | "The real risk, almost three years on from the start of the pandemic, is that the Covid hit to NHS performance is not time-limited. |
| "Going forward, we need to grapple with the possibility that the health service is just able to treat fewer patients with the same level of resources." | "Going forward, we need to grapple with the possibility that the health service is just able to treat fewer patients with the same level of resources." |
| A Department of Health spokesperson said: "As the IFS report acknowledges, Covid had a significant impact on the NHS, and we are focused on delivering the biggest catch-up programme in health history". | A Department of Health spokesperson said: "As the IFS report acknowledges, Covid had a significant impact on the NHS, and we are focused on delivering the biggest catch-up programme in health history". |
| They said the NHS had reduced waits of 18 months by 60% in a year and "virtually eliminated" waits of more than two years. | They said the NHS had reduced waits of 18 months by 60% in a year and "virtually eliminated" waits of more than two years. |
| "We're allocating an extra £500 million to speed up hospital discharge, getting ambulances back on the road more quickly, and increasing the number of NHS call handlers." | "We're allocating an extra £500 million to speed up hospital discharge, getting ambulances back on the road more quickly, and increasing the number of NHS call handlers." |
| This is the second of a series of IFS reports. | This is the second of a series of IFS reports. |
| The first found the NHS was doing less than before the pandemic, despite more staff and funding. | The first found the NHS was doing less than before the pandemic, despite more staff and funding. |
| But this one is designed to highlight the complexities and mitigating factors, concluding there are significant long-term changes to the health and care landscape worthy of further investigation. | But this one is designed to highlight the complexities and mitigating factors, concluding there are significant long-term changes to the health and care landscape worthy of further investigation. |
| Related Topics | |
| NHS | |
| Institute for Fiscal Studies |