Delays, Waiting Lists and Horror Stories Plague the NHS at 75
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 02: London Ambulances outside The Royal London Hospital on January 2, 2023 in London, England. NHS A&E departments faced extreme pressures last winter. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine said that some A&E departments were in a 'complete state of crisis.' (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)
Photographer: Hollie Adams/Getty Images EuropeHi, it’s Suzi in London. Britain’s much-loved National Health Service (NHS) turns 75 today, but rather than being a cause for celebration the anniversary comes at a crunch moment. A first-of-its-kind analysis by Bloomberg shows the service is missing most of its own targets. But first...
The narrative of a failing NHS is nothing new for anyone living in England. Everyone will have experienced either first or second-hand the frustration of not being able to get a doctor’s appointment when you need one or months-long waits for treatment referrals. Then there’s the dreaded trip to the emergency room, with a good chance you will have to wait so long you won’t be seen before you need your next two meals — and that’s if you’re lucky.