Responding to the latest NHS performance figures, which show waiting lists growing to the highest levels since records began and cancer patients experiencing record-long waits for treatment, BMA consultants committee chair Dr Rob Harwood said:
This latest set of NHS figures show a health service descending into an ever-deepening crisis and closer to a system unfit for purpose.
Across the board, hospital, general practice and community services are struggling to cope and these statistics should serve as a major red flag of the need for urgent investment to reach the frontline. Medical and support staff are continuing to do their best for patients but without immediate investment, those efforts will not be enough to guarantee safe, effective care.
With waiting lists growing to the highest levels since records began; rising over 5 percent in the last year, and nowhere near the requisite number of patients being treated within 18 weeks; at just over 86 percent - the worst performance since January 2009 – the NHS is in a dire situation.
For cancer patients, it’s even worse. Despite the BMA warning over a month ago of the crisis in cancer care, it is extremely concerning that we are continuing to see a rising trend in the number of patients forced to wait over two weeks to see a cancer specialist after their GP referral, further adding to their distress.
The Government must get an urgent grip on the crisis that is continuing to unfold in the NHS. Clearly, when each set of monthly figures presents worse than the last, there is a real need for a drastic change in how we are delivering care for patients.”
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