Extract A

Hospitals already full

National Health Service (NHS) managers’ warned that bed occupancy rates are approaching 99% in some parts of the country, compared with recommended levels of 85%. In 2017 the number of patients waiting for non-urgent treatment passed the four million mark, the highest figure for almost a decade. The chief executive of the NHS suggested that waiting list targets for routine operations such as hip and knee replacements would have to be sacrificed in order to protect other services, including accident and emergency (A&E) and cancer care. However, the government has insisted waiting time targets must still be met. Recently the Chancellor awarded the NHS £2.8 billion over three years, including £1.6 billion in 2018 - less than the £4 billion which NHS officials had asked for to keep up with an ageing population and new medical technologies. NHS managers said there was now very little spare capacity in the system, warning of shortages of paramedics, doctors, A&E consultants and nurses.

(Source: adapted from http://www.telegraph.co.uk)