The Guardian view on the NHS in peril: the risks are multiplying | Editorial
GuardianDec 29, 2022
President of the Society for Acute Medicine Dr. Tim Cooksley, along with the Liberal Democrats, has called on the UK government to declare a "national major incident" over continuing pressure within the National Health Service (NHS). At least seven hospital trusts currently have critical incidents in place, while Matthew Taylor, the head of the NHS Confederation, has told news outlets that the organization is facing "the toughest winter" they have dealt with.
Cooksley added that the "best hope" of a short-term solution laid in a number of recommendations, including increased investment in primary care, social care, mental health, and ambulance services.
More strikes loom, the crisis in adult social care continues to escalate, and junior NHS doctors are ready to quit their roles en masse. With the safety of the nation at stake, Rishi Sunak's government seems committed to intentionally maximizing conflict and disruption. The conservatives' stubbornness in the face of reasonable demands — amid spiraling inflation — is putting lives at risk.
While Sunak's government can pursue long-term reforms to the NHS — such as providing equipment, funding, and enacting repairs — few of such interventions will have any impact on the situation before the next election. Sunak will need to devise an inventive and politically astute plan to respond to this situation while protecting conservative interests in the lead-up to the next general election.