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1. Had an interesting chat with my colorectal surgeon yesterday about the lack of people in hospitals. He said in his hospital less than half of the 23 operating theatres are in use. He personally is doing half the amount of operations he was doing before Covid.
2. He told me that obviously some of this in other areas is due to the cancelling of virtually all elective (non-urgent) procedures; hernias, hip replacements etc. But this didn’t explain everything. His theory was that it was due to multiple effects but started with patients.
7. ..if you’re feeling unwell or are partially the way through diagnosis/treatment don’t take this lying down. Be persistent and determined and remind the NHS who they work for. It’s for you. It’s not a saintly organisation that needs protecting. You do. You pay for them.
5. Hospitals have been geared up towards Covid too. I’d you go to A&E with a fever you are put on a CV pathway even though you might have appendicitis or something else unrelated to the virus.
6. Taken all together this has meant that many have not been seen, diagnosed or treated. The long term effects of this could well outweigh any effects from Covid.
So...
So...
4. GPs haven’t helped. They’ve sent out a pretty strong message of “don’t come to us” coupled with the almost complete lack of face-to-face appointments. People with serious conditions are simply afraid to go or have been put off.
8. I had this conversation in person in a hospital so it can be done, but it required a lot of phone calls and persistence. If you’re not up for that due to illness ask a friend or relative to go to bat on your behalf.
Don’t take no for an answer.
Don’t take no for an answer.
3. He said people simply weee re not presenting themselves at GPs and A&Es. The government propaganda has gone too far and been badly expressed. Coupled with this is a fear that people have of going to a GP or a hospital and catching and dying of Covid.
9. Sorry, for some reason this thread seems to have disordered itself. No idea why.