Covid: NHS backlog in England could reach 13 million, says Sajid Javid
In rural settings, where accessing treatment for many of the conditioned referenced here is more complicated, this represents a huge backlog and challenge. The story tells us:
NHS waiting lists in England could more than double in the coming months, the health secretary has said.
Currently, some 5.3 million people are waiting for routine operations and procedures in England.
Sajid Javid told the Sunday Telegraph he was “shocked” when officials warned him that the backlog could reach 13 million patients.
But he added he was confident most remaining curbs would be lifted in England on 19 July.
Mr Javid, who became health secretary two weeks ago after his predecessor Matt Hancock resigned following an apology for breaking social-distancing rules, said waiting lists were his priority.
He told the Sunday Telegraph: “What shocked me the most is when I was told that the waiting list is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
“It’s gone up from 3.5 million to 5.3 million as of today, and I said to the officials, so what do you mean ‘a lot worse’, thinking maybe it goes from 5.3 million to six million, seven million. They said no, it’s going to go up by millions… it could go as high as 13 million.
“Hearing that figure of 13 million, it has absolutely focused my mind, and it’s going to be one of my top priorities to deal with because we can’t have that.”
Among the solutions, Mr Javid said, would be to pay private healthcare providers to continue to treat NHS patients, and keeping virtual doctors’ appointments.