The NHS is facing great pressure due to increasing demands, limited resources and an ageing population. This has led to long waiting times, overcrowding in hospitals and a lack of staff. As a result, the NHS is struggling to provide the best care for its patients. This article will explore the pressures that the NHS is facing and how it can be addressed. It will look at the impact on patient care, financial pressures and staffing levels to understand how these issues can be addressed to improve patient care.

1. The Pressures Of The NHS
The NHS is facing great pressure due to increasing demands, limited resources and an ageing
population. This has led to long waiting times, overcrowding in hospitals and a lack of staff. As a
result, the NHS is struggling to provide the best care for its patients. This article will explore the
pressures that the NHS is facing and how it can be addressed. It will look at the impact on
patient care, financial pressures and staffing levels to understand how these issues can be
addressed to improve patient care.
What are the Pressures Facing the NHS Post-Covid?
Following the Pandemic there has been lots of dissent throughout the NHS, and this has
resulted in lots of industrial action being taken. Doctors and nurses are gathering with signs and
refusing to work, demanding higher pay and better working conditions. Due to the constant
mishandling of funds on top of the funding cuts that have been repeatedly applied over the
years, the NHS has struggled to keep itself afloat financially, and this has hit doctors and nurses
especially hard. Doctors and nurses were and in some cases still are working long 12+ hour
shifts, with no breaks, and in exchange receive minimum wage pay and can barely afford to
keep the heating on, mainly thanks to fuel shortages caused by the war in Ukraine.

2. Due to the lack of support from the NHS, and the ignorance of the government, many doctors
and nurses are turning to serve in healthcare in another country. Australia especially has
contributed to a current lack of available staff in the UK, as since 2004 over 4500 nurses have
left for Australia, and only 250 have returned. For many, Australia is a perfect getaway, as the
country regularly experiences nice and sunny weather, and the nurses are being offered
generous salary benefits.
For the NHS however, this further complicates problems as in some cases there is physical
space to take in more patients, but not enough doctors and nurses to care for them, and the
remaining doctors and nurses instead have to shoulder more of a burden. In an attempt to solve
the problem, the NHS is always trying to recruit new members, but this solution costs the NHS a
lot of money, and once a member is trained they may be offered a spot abroad for a much better
wage. There is also the problem of the NHS not being an attractive employer, as nothing
advertises your company better than thousands of hardworking employees striking on the
streets.
The Impact of Covid on NHS Staff and Resources
The Covid-19 pandemic had a huge impact on NHS staff and resources. As the virus spread, so
did the strain on NHS staff, who faced an unprecedented level of demand for their services. This
increased demand put a huge strain on resources, which would leave at least 30% of all nurses
without any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), leaving some nurses to resort to reusing
disposable PPE. This would further exacerbate mental health problems.
The pandemic also highlighted the need for better support for NHS staff to ensure they can cope
with the demands of their job. To help support NHS staff, the House of Commons commissioned
a Health and Social Care Committee to report on the levels of mental health distress and the
amount of support staff available. The research found that nearly half of the doctors who had
responded to the Committee had reported suffering from depression, anxiety, stress, burnout,
emotional distress or other mental health conditions.
How Can We Support Our Healthcare Heroes During This Time?
There are many different ways that we can support those working in healthcare as they deal
with the repercussions of the Covid - 19 pandemic. One of those is to ensure that we are using
their services correctly and not taking advantage. A&E has been flooded across the countries
with wait times reaching record heights. As a nation, we need to consider whether our issue is
genuinely worth requiring immediate care, or if a simple GP visit may find the solution.
Another way that we can support our NHS is through donations and volunteering. Since the
pandemic, many different charities have been set up to help fund them through this difficult time,
when the government can give no more. There are various options for donating, including
setting up a regular donation or donating on a one-off basis. There is also an option for you to
donate in memory of a loved one.
What Are The Long-Term Implications Of The Covid Pandemic
On The NHS?

3. One of the biggest long-term implications that Covid - 19 will have on the NHS is the long wait
lists that affect almost every aspect of the NHS. Due to the pandemic, many surgeries and
appointments that were not deemed as a high priority were pushed back to make sure that there
were enough doctors and nurses on hand to care for those that were suffering from Covid. As
the pandemic went on for years (and continues to go on), those on waiting lists are still awaiting
their appointments. Along with the fact that doctors and nurses have been striking due to unfair
pay, the waiting lists will likely continue to be long.
Another long-term implication of Covid-19 on the NHS is the shortage of staff. Throughout the
pandemic, the NHS were our first line of defence, and they did a fantastic job. However, the
challenges that they faced were extremely difficult, and they were offered little to no reward for
their heroic efforts. Many people who worked for the NHS simply could not take the toll on their
mental health and had to leave their profession. Along with this, recruiting for the NHS has
become increasingly difficult, as there are few candidates out there who are willing to take on a
job role that requires such physical and mental strength for not the greatest wage. The unfair
wages along with the ridiculous university costs mean that the country is crying for nurses and
doctors and may be doing so for years to come.
Written by nowmedical