Watchdog warns ‘exceptional’ NHS pressure is affecting patient care

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We are seeing a very high level of emergency demand this summer, which is exceptional, compared to previous summers and really reflects the level of activity that most of these services see in winter.” He said the pressures on hospitals were combing together and “having a big impact on their ability to provide patient care as well as they'd like but is also having a big impact on staff, many of whom have been working in a highly pressurised environment now for well over a year. We need to recognise the impact this is having on services in the long-term.” On Tuesday, as concern over the summer crisis in the NHS deepened, Prof Baker said he met with ambulance chiefs to hear about the strain they were under: “Several of them are reporting their busiest days ever in the last week or so, and this is extraordinary for summer time and is having an impact on their ability to provide care in a way they want to.” He warned parts of the NHS not to blame each other but to recognise the crisis was a “system issue” adding: “The model of care we provide at the moment really is not delivering the care that people are looking for. “The things that we are hearing about are firstly, the very, very, high demand and speaking to GPs who've been GPs for 35 years who said they've never known demand like it is now.” She said GPs were reporting high demand from people worried about coronavirus as well as the side effects of the vaccines but she also warned: “They're still seeing late presentations of a whole variety of illnesses for people who didn't present during the time of the pandemic and a growing number of people with mental health problems and anxiety. A spokesperson said: “Local NHS services are seeing increased demand with tried and tested processes in place to care for patients, while ambulance trusts in England are already starting to benefit from a £55 million boost for extra staff ahead of winter - so if you do have a health concerns, please continue to come forward to the NHS when you need care.”