NHS Under Pressure..... what's going on?
So what is going on?
These factors are also coupled with the problem we have as a country with the generational spacing. According to the Office for National Statistics the number of people in their 70s in the UK has increased from 4 million to 5 million between 1990 and 2016. We undoubtedly have an aging population, with 13.9 million of our 67 million UK population ranging from 57 to 75 years old. (Statista.com).
These elderly patients from both the baby boomer and veteran generations are spending more time in the NHS than any other generation, and things are set to get worst as 24.4% of our current UK Population is over 65. It is a fact that as you get older, your healthcare needs become more complex and demanding. (Gov.UK)
Our NHS staff are also only human, and as these winter viruses take hold of the population they too are contracting the viruses and are having to call in sick like the rest of the population.
England NHS have released some statistics in the run up to Christmas London had the highest rate of Covid in England with data from the UK Security Agency (UKHSA) estimating that around 6.1% of Londoners had the virus as of December 13th. Now that we have all spent significant time with friends and family, and potentially even mixing with varying groups of people the spread of these winter viruses will now escalate. It was estimated that in England and Scotland around 4.2% of people had the virus, around one in every 24 people as at the 13th of December 2023.
Norovirus cases continue to rise, and are causing mayhem across hospitals throughout the UK. The increase in norovirus cases means that an average of 56 beds are closed every day and are not being used in measures to stop the spread of the virus. With an ageing population, and our hospitals full of baby boomers and verterans, norovirus cases rising is a recipe for disaster.
Winter flu virus is in full swing, and only 38.6% of the eligible patients taking up the free flu jab, meaning that 62% of those eligible and deemed ‘at higher risk’ have opted to not have the jab
What are the NHS saying?
Dr Mary Ramsay, Director of Public Health Programmes at UKHSA, said:
“The effects of the recent cold weather and increased socialising indoors in the run up to Christmas are unsurprisingly causing flu and COVID-19 to spread more easily and numbers infected going up further”. She then advised to avoid contact with more vunerable members of society.
“If you are showing signs of a respiratory illness, like flu and COVID-19, try to limit your contact with others as much as possible, particularly those who are more vulnerable.”
Richard Jennings, group chief medical officer, St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, said: “Our three emergency departments are responding to very high demand at a time when our hospitals are very full, and in particular we are seeing an increase in people coming to our emergency departments with norovirus and flu – both of which can make vulnerable people very poorly.
Lesley Larkin, Interim Deputy Director, Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety (One Health) Division at UKHSA said:
“Norovirus cases continue to rise, especially among those 65 and older and in care homes.
“If you have norovirus or any other stomach bug that causes diarrhoea and vomiting, you can take steps to avoid passing it on to family and friends over the festive period. Don’t prepare food for others if you have symptoms or for 48 hours after symptoms stop.
How can you help?
We are so fortunate to have our NHS in the UK. I’ve recently seen horror stories about how much it costs to have a baby in the US- it’s absolutely staggering! So we need to look after our NHS, and make sure we all play our part now all the get togethers over the holiday period have ceased.
If you’re unwell, with either norovirus (sickness bug), winter flu, or Covid, stay home. Getting out and about will mean that the 25% of our population which is over 65 are more likely to be infected, and are more likely to need NHS intervention.
Wash your hands, well, and frequently.
Use bleach based products, or a sanitiser to clean surfaces which will also stop these viruses from spreading.
References:
Office of National Statistics - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/ageing/articles/howdothepostworldwarbabyboomgenerationscompare/2018-03-06
Statista.com - https://www.statista.com/statistics/1394832/uk-baby-boomer-population/#:~:text=As%20of%202021%2C%20there%20were,57%20to%2075%2Dyear's%20old.
Gov.UK https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/uk-population-by-ethnicity/demographics/age-groups/latest/
