Coronavirus: Non-COVID patient care ‘on hold’ as doctors fear wave of referrals after lockdown – The Loppy

NHS cancer surgeons are out of work as referrals have dropped by 75% as doctors warned non-coronavirus patients may have died because they have been neglected.

With 25% of NHS doctors redeployed to care for COVID-19 patients, thousands of medics have said other patients have been forgotten about and they are significantly worried about long-term clinical demands on the NHS.

A survey of more than 16,000 UK doctors by the British Medical Association (BMA) found there are serious concerns some patients may have deteriorated and possibly died because their care has effectively been placed on hold.

Medicine shortages are also a major concern, with more than a quarter not being able to get the correct medicine, gases or therapeutics.

The survey, the largest gauging UK doctors opinion since the crisis started, found a third said these shortages, or anticipated future shortages, have forced them to offer less effective treatment.

Shortages included inhalers, antibiotics, anaesthetic drugs, oxygen, painkillers and hormone replacement therapy medicines for menopausal symptoms.

One cancer surgeon said the number of referrals had dropped by a quarter and they feared how this would impact on patients.

They were also concerned they would be hit with a large wave of referrals once the COVID-19 situation eases with more advanced cases and worse outcomes in a health system that was already under major pressure before the pandemic.

GP practices will experience significant impact when patients who have delayed seeing their doctor seek care, the survey found.

Another cancer surgeon said: Im struggling with being a surgeon but not being able to offer operations.

And one doctor added that no one cares in the slightest about parts of the NHS not looking after COVID-19 patients, leaving staff drowning as they try to keep services running.

A recurring theme since the pandemic hit the UK at the end of February, the survey found there are still problems with getting PPE, with almost half of doctors having to source their own equipment or rely on donations.

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BMA council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: While all parts of the NHS have rallied around in a bid to meet the immediate rocketing demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, these findings bear out the fears held by many doctors that parts of the health service and most importantly the needs of patients more widely with non-COVID illness are being neglected.

This means many ill patients are not getting the care they so desperately need now and crucially, risking their conditions getting worse and with some maybe even dying as a result.

Once this current situation eases, it is highly likely that there will be a sudden spike in demand, from patients with far more acute illnesses, caused by a delay in timely treatment. It is vital that the NHS plans for this now.

Dr Nagpaul said he supports the government insisting the NHS is able to cope before easing the lockdown.

He said this must include being able to cope with a potential surge in patients who have been put off accessing healthcare or had their treatment deferred.

And he called on the government to set out a clear and tangible plan for how the NHS will have capacity for both COVID and non-COVID patients.

This week Kay Burley will be hosting a live Q&A with Health Secretary Matt Hancock. You can put your questions to Mr Hancock about the coronavirus and its impact on your life live on Sky News.

Email us your questions or you can record a video clip of your question on your phone and send it to [emailprotected]

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Coronavirus: Non-COVID patient care 'on hold' as doctors fear wave of referrals after lockdown - The Loppy