RCSEd responds to cancellation of elective surgery, lack of testing and concerns over NHS staff wellbeing
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The continuing surge in serious COVID-19 cases means hospitals across the UK are likely to be dealing with as many, if not more, patients over the coming weeks as at the height of the pandemic in April.
Whilst we welcome the national initiatives being put in place, such as national monitoring of hospitals and diverting patients to places with spare capacity, our ongoing concerns over the cancellation of elective surgery, the continued lack of regular testing of NHS staff and the impacts that a second wave will have on highly stretched NHS resources sadly remain.
The failure to deal with these over the summer are now having unfortunate consequences. There has been little to no improvement in the regular testing of NHS staff and in parts of the Midlands and northern England, almost half of all staff absence has been linked to coronavirus. This has not only exasperated existing staff shortages but undermined attempts to create Covid light areas where diagnostics and urgent elective surgery can continue.
Moreover, we are highly concerned with the growing number of our Members and Fellows informing us anecdotally of incidences in which the anticipated second wave is being used to drive through unnecessary changes to degrade contracts, terms and conditions. This would be unwarranted in normal times, but is particularly uncalled for at this present time.
The pandemic should never be used as an excuse to enforce change. The NHS cannot safely provide essential and elective care unless staff are supported and appreciated, so the focus needs to be to support rather than needlessly alienate staff working tirelessly to provide the best possible patient care.
At the start of this pandemic the whole NHS pulled together to ensure that we were ready for the challenges we faced. We now need a similar effort to prepare for the long winter ahead.
ENDS
About The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh was founded in 1505.It is the oldest Surgical College in the world with just over 31,000 members in 100 countries, almost half of whom are overseas, touching every stage of the career path from medical student to consultant. We are a family of Surgeons, Dental Surgeons and members of the Surgical and Dental teams who put Patient Safety at the heart of everything they do. Our high quality education and examinations ensure that standards are upheld across all specialities and in all countries.
With our interest in professional standards, the College’s primary role – and the main concern of our Fellows and Members – is to ensure the safety of our patients and provide them with the best possible care. We do this by championing the highest standards of surgical and dental practice; through our provision of courses and educational programmes, training, examinations, and Continuous Professional Development; our liaison with external medical bodies; and by influencing healthcare policy across the UK.
Find RCSEd here www.rcsed.ac.uk, on Twitter www.twitter.com/RCSEd, on Facebook www.facebook.com/rcsed and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/RCSEd/
Issued by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. For further information, please contact comms@rcsed.ac.uk
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