To ask what can be done immediately to take the pressure off the NHS?

[Twinklenoseblows]

I've been reading stories about people waiting 4 days in A&E, people being taken into A&E in the back of a van with a broken hip as there are no ambulances ,and doctors and nurses pleading for something to be done right now as lives are at risk. But what can be done that would make a difference within the next week or two?

Promises of more money and more staff will presumably take years to filter through and make a difference.

I guess what is worrying me beyond the immediate crisis is that some bright spark in government is going to say we need a circuit breaker lockdown to reduce flu and covid admissions for the next few months to take some immediate pressure off. The thought fills me with horror so I'm hoping there is something else.

E.g. as a very short term measure could some people be diverted to make use of any spare private GP capacity to try to reduce the number of people going to A&E who could instead be dealt with by a GP if only they could get an appointment. Or is that madness?

I'm not sure I'm following you @ILoveeCakes? How is me asking about something I've been thinking a lot about me trying to validate my existence?

Well the government could give the NHS workers/ paramedics the pay rises they are asking for. So this would stop any strikes.

People need to take more responsibility for their own health as well as blaming the government. People being obese with cardiac conditions or being T2DM, still smoking, drinking (and getting into a accidents as a result of being drunk) all use beds both in A&E and in the wards.

People not bothering with their own health is a main issue, even with all the education in the world about healthy eating and stopping smoking doesn't seem to make a difference.

The question is what can be done immediately, this would take months to take any effect.

And also it should be taken into account by the government when they are planning the healthcare for the country.

It's easy blaming people for getting ill when the blame lies in one place.

More out of hours gp cover would be a sticking plaster that would ease things but then you don't have the gp numbers to cover. An immediate boost to hcsw numbers to cover geriatric care and home care packages. Increase band 3 and 4 numbers to ease some of the burden on band 5 and 6.

I have to question how I'll was that person who spent 4 days waiting to be seen in a&e, early cant of been serious enough.

Think some people should stop going u less tmits an actual emergency would be the quickest thing to help

The immediate effect of not having multiple drunken injuries would definitely help after what I've seen working over the new years.

Many patients will now be in hospital for days if not weeks due to the damage they have caused and having a knock on effect on having to cancel elective procedures for those who really need it because there are no beds for them.

Couldn't agree more. I work in primary care and a huge number of our appointments could be avoided if a little common sense were used.
People need to take more responsibility for themselves and parent their own children instead of expecting the NHS to do everything for them.
If that were to happen it would free up appointments for those who need them which would take pressure off A&E, 111, etc

I agree @Rowthe they need to reach a pay deal. But I don't think that would solve the current crisis would it? Presumably A&E would still be overrun, there still wouldn't be enough beds because there wouldn't be enough social care places to discharge people to etc.

Which makes me wonder what could be done to increase social care places, again I guess they could fund the use of private placements more, but presumably they're all struggling with a lack of care staff too.

Getting the GP service working again is the big thing I think. If you sort that you alleviate a load of pressure on urgent care.

GP surgeries where I live are completely non functional. People often have to go to A&E to get seen.

The immediate thing is that every single person can consider their need for A&E very carefully. That would make an immediate difference.

Immediately increase the amount councils are willing to pay for care packages, care home beds and carers wages. As soon as we can help more patients that are well enough to leave hospital with a decent care package we can free up beds in hospitals to allow patients to flow out of a&e and ambulances.

It won't fix everything, acute beds are limited by lack of nurses and clinical staff to safely care for patients but it would give a bit of relief.

Care workers pay is awful, it's a really hard job and horribly under valued, recruitment and retention is dreadful because of that. Make it more desirable and you help the health service almost immediately.

Short term-

Extend gp days and/or add extra appointments at weekends. This will help people avoid going to AE as they can't get a GP appointment.

Medium term-
Nationwide campaign to encourage people to go to a pharmacy first. Even if it's just to get a blood pressure/blood sugar levels checked.
Make people aware of the vital roll that vitamin D and vitamins in general play in our overall health.
Encourage prayer in bariatric services to help proper lose weight as this is shown to save £££££ down the line AND improve health.

Long term-
Total restructure for the nhs.
Tax unhealthy processed food
Subsidise healthy whole foods
Increase exercise within schools
Improve grass roots sports

Well to put it quite blunty, the NHS was never designed for the world we have now, where more people than ever live into their 80s and 90s with complex health issues that require long term support. We have an ageing population. No one wants to pay the level of tax that it would take to truly support the NHS. 10 years plus of a Conservative government that are actively committed to bringing state health care to its knees. Scientific breakthroughs creating the possibility of more complex treatments and surgeries that people expect to receive. Comprehensive financial mismanagement but a lot of NHS trusts. People having children later or through IVf leading to complex pregnancies and births with a lot more intervention. There are some very hard truths we just aren't prepared to face. Even an NHS that was properly funded and politically supported would be struggling. The simple truth is we all need to pay a lot more. And get a lot more strict on what is treated and what is not. But I don't think people want to hear that. They want low taxes and a bottomless pit of treatment.

He was taken in by ambulance and waited 99 hours. He won't have been there for shits and giggles.

Govt can't afford any more lock downs. What is this MN obsession with lockdowns? Even China isn't Fing locking down any more.

You and lots of people could act as volunteer carers, OP. That would immediately help. If a lot of people could act as volunteer carers / take up paid care employment to start to alleviate the social care crisis. Apparently >500k of ppl age 50-67 dropped out of work since 2020 & most not because of ill health or conflicting obligations. So, unretiring themselves could help.

glasshole "Encourage prayer in bariatric services to help proper lose weight as this is shown to save £££££ down the line AND improve health."

Prayer! are you sure? 😂😂

Finding some temporary form of accommodation for those who are ready to discharge but awaiting a space in a care home etc has been suggested. Some hospitals have set up separate wards for those ready to go and I've seen suggestions of using hotels.

Speeding up social care assessments would also help - MIL spent an extra week in hospital once ready to go, even though the care home she wanted to go to for convalescence had space, because the person supposed to be doing her assessment didn't have the right kind of covid mask (met the hospital's requirements but not the care home's) and then delayed because they didn't do assessments at weekends.

More controversially, they could reduce end of life care where extensive, expensive treatments add days or weeks to a life that's already running into the end. And i say that as someone who's seen a parent and a close friend go through that stage of healthcare.

@lljkk I don't want a lockdown, I'm just worried it will happen. And I don't think I'd make a very good volunteer carer given I'm either at work or have a toddler in tow. Although to be fair said toddler is very enthusiastic about playing doctors so perhaps they'd come in handy.

Interesting points, I can see the temporary accommodation working if they could find enough suitably qualified staff to oversee it.

OP as a passionate anti lockdowner from the start, I think they will use any "excuse" and this might well be one.

NHS staff being able to turn people away at A&E who don't need to be there without fear of complaints and investigation. The nhs removing processes that take front line staff hours to complete , working in mental health liaison the documentation takes around 3 hours to complete for people we see in A&E. This should be a quicker process. People thinking they are entitled to what they want and demanding this from staff.

More OOH and minor injuries units open for longer hours would surely help, triaged by nurse practitioners. Many people heading for A and E are parents worried about children who possibly just need antibiotics for ear infections etc., cuts and minor injuries which need steristrips or cleaning.

There are plenty of things people can do to help. I'm sure most people could do at least one of these things:
Don't vote Tory
Consider the need for A&E
Maintain a healthy weight
Quit the cigs
Reduce alcohol consumption
Take regular exercise
Do the exercises that the physio/specialist recommended
Have fewer children
Treat at home if you can
Buy your own meds if available OTC and affordable
Don't miss appointments
Campaign for change
Treat NHS staff with courtesy

People might say 'Well why should we have to do anything, it's up to the government to sort it out'. To that, I would reply that they are doing sweet FA to improve things so it's down to us.