Leaders criticise the government’s inaction as pressure on emergency services and Covid admissions soars
NHS leaders have strongly criticised the government for “abandoning interest” in Covid and failing to address the escalating crisis as the NHS faces a “brutal” Easter period. According to the NHS Confederation, the situation is now as dire as the pressures experienced during winter, with staff and patients enduring significant strain.
The government has been urged to adopt a more robust response to Covid, particularly as hospital admissions continue to climb. Over 20,000 hospital beds in England were occupied by Covid-positive patients last week, while staff absences due to the virus reached their highest level in 10 weeks. Emergency services are also under enormous pressure, with 20 A&Es diverting ambulances and hospitals declaring critical incidents nationwide.
Reports suggest delays for ambulance services are unprecedented, with some stroke and suspected heart attack patients waiting over four hours for care—far longer than the 18-minute target. Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, stated: “The brutal reality for staff and patients is that this Easter in the NHS is as bad as any winter.”
Taylor accused the government of neglecting responsibility, highlighting that “No 10 has seemingly abandoned any interest in Covid whatsoever.” Financial pressures are compounding the crisis, with cuts to NHS funding and high inflation reducing the real value of budgets. Despite these challenges, NHS England has had to pull hundreds of millions from its central budget to address shortfalls in Covid testing following the winding down of the government’s Test and Trace programme.
The NHS Confederation is calling for the government to reverse this financial strain, enhance public health messaging around Covid precautions, and adopt a realistic approach to the NHS’s capacity amidst high infection rates, rising emergency demand, and a growing backlog of planned care.
Taylor added: “Covid is far from over, as ministers appear to want to believe, and we urge them to get a grip on this – both for the current spike in infections but also for potential future ones.”
In response, the Department of Health and Social Care defended its position, stating that vaccination and antiviral success, combined with public understanding, allowed Covid to transition into a “living with Covid” approach. A spokesperson added: “We are incredibly grateful to NHS staff and we have set out our plan to tackle the Covid backlog and deliver long-term recovery and reform, backed by our record multibillion-pound investment over the next three years.”
Despite this assurance, the NHS continues to struggle under immense pressure as it faces both immediate challenges and long-term financial uncertainty.
