A&E. The headline for the majority of the health news that has been circulating the BBC for quite some time now. Accident and Emergency departments are open 24/7, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and specialise in just that - accidents and emergencies. However, as we've all been hearing for months now, this is simply just not the case and this is leading to A&E departments being almost on the bring of collapse.
Why are they struggling so much you ask? Well it all comes down to three main reasons:
1: Lack of out of hours services
Back in 2004, Tony Blair's Government made a deal with GPs to reduce their working hours and allow them to no longer be on call for weekends and evenings all in exchange for £6000 of their salary. This has been described as the root to the cause of A&E disintegrating by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. He believes that the current GP contract is 'fundamentally flawed' as responsibility of out of hours services has been removed from the hands of GPs. Many GPs are outraged and annoyed at the constant blame they receive as many of them currently feel 'overworked' and feel that a lot of unnecessary pressure is being placed on them. They also agree that their is a flaw in NHS 111. This is a helpline you can call when your family doctor is not available and so advice is given to you on what you should do next. GPs believe that the system is flawed, as the resulting next step is often advice to visit A&E.
2: The Ageing population
People are living longer. A great statement yes? Well, it does come with its own problems. People are living longer but they as they grow older they are more vulnerable to disease, and more severe diseases at that. It is presently thought the the elderly with complex conditions are now the greatest challenge. Many of them are said to arrive by ambulance and often have to have an extended stay. Which poses another problem - space and beds. David Cameron is proposing that what we should do is concentrate on building the relationship between A&E departments, GP practices and social care departments so that the elderly may receive more help from their local communities.
3. Staff Shortages
With the increase in demands by patients it is clear that staff shortages are a definite problem in need of desperate attention. This is all results in critical cases being handed over to junior doctors who may not be competent enough to deal with the patients thus endangering their safety. This battle between increase in demand, and decrease in supply seems as a fundamental issue at the root of the cause.
The solution to fixing the problem that is A&E waiting services is proving hard to find. However, a 'bailout' as been announced for specific struggling A&E units. This is just a short term solution to a long time problem of course, and many are aware of this.
What are your views on this? Comment/e-mail me, I'd love to know.
Food for thought:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23612539#?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10192661/Crisis-in-AandE-as-hospitals-grapple-with-staff-shortages.html
http://fullfact.org/articles/factsheet_crisis_accident_emergency_care-29078
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