NHS emergency care is ‘systemic national crisis’, warns House of Lords report

NHS emergency care is ‘systemic national crisis’, warns House of Lords report

The state of emergency healthcare in England is “in crisis”, a major report commissioned by the House of Lords has warned. The report, released on Thursday by the Lords’

The state of emergency healthcare in England is “in crisis”, a major report commissioned by the House of Lords has warned. The report, released on Thursday by the Lords’

Public Services Committee, urges Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to convene a Cobra meeting to address the crisis. Patients across the country are facing record waits for

Public Services Committee, urges Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to convene a Cobra meeting to address the crisis. Patients across the country are facing record waits for

treatment in A&E and for ambulances. A lack of capacity in the social care system means that many hospital beds are occupied by patients in need of social care who have

treatment in A&E and for ambulances. A lack of capacity in the social care system means that many hospital beds are occupied by patients in need of social care who have

nowhere else to go. The crisis in the NHS is systemic, the report argues, and stems from “unmet need in primary and community care”. “Waiting for care, patients

nowhere else to go. The crisis in the NHS is systemic, the report argues, and stems from “unmet need in primary and community care”. “Waiting for care, patients

experience distress and lengthy delays, leading to substantial clinical risk. “Emergency healthcare, a key component in the national health service, has been allowed to

experience distress and lengthy delays, leading to substantial clinical risk. “Emergency healthcare, a key component in the national health service, has been allowed to

degenerate, and it is likely to get worse. We see no sign that there is an adequate plan or the necessary leadership to address this,” the report says. The author’s go on

degenerate, and it is likely to get worse. We see no sign that there is an adequate plan or the necessary leadership to address this,” the report says. The author’s go on

to claim that figures on A&E wait times released monthly have been “widely underestimated”. “The data published monthly on waiting times exceeding 12 hours does not

to claim that figures on A&E wait times released monthly have been “widely underestimated”. “The data published monthly on waiting times exceeding 12 hours does not

reflect the patient experience because the clock only starts when a clinician has made the decision to admit a patient to hospital, rather than when that patient entered A&E.

reflect the patient experience because the clock only starts when a clinician has made the decision to admit a patient to hospital, rather than when that patient entered A&E.

This was described to us as ‘a fundamentally dishonest way of reporting data’”. A total of 9,588 people had to wait more than 12 hours in A&E departments in London in

This was described to us as ‘a fundamentally dishonest way of reporting data’”. A total of 9,588 people had to wait more than 12 hours in A&E departments in London in

December from a decision to admit to actually being admitted – a jump of 34 per cent on the previous month.

December from a decision to admit to actually being admitted – a jump of 34 per cent on the previous month.