The Most Sought-After Furniture in the UK: Beds in NHS Hospitals
In the past, people used to say that the most coveted furniture in London was a table at The Ivy, a popular restaurant. However, it seems that the tides have turned and now the most sought-after piece of furniture in the entire country is a bed in an NHS hospital.
Recent research has revealed a concerning decline in the number of hospital beds in England since 2015. On average, there are only 2.3 beds for every 1,000 people. In some areas, the situation is even worse. For instance, London’s Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has a mere 0.9 beds for every 1,000 people. To put this into context, this is equivalent to the number of beds available in Somalia in 2017.
This decline in hospital beds is not limited to a few isolated cases. Two-thirds of NHS hospital trusts have experienced a reduction in bed numbers. As a result, more patients are being left in A&E departments for extended periods of time.
The decrease in bed capacity can be traced back to the decisions made during the Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. They oversaw a hospital rebuilding scheme that resulted in hospitals having an average of 30% fewer beds. These changes were implemented through Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs), which involved contracting private firms to complete and manage public projects, including the construction and operation of NHS hospitals. The intention was to improve efficiency, but in reality, it has cost the NHS more money. Consequently, bed numbers have been cut because treating fewer patients reduces costs.
Unfortunately, reducing bed numbers has not proved to be a wise financial decision. Most hospitals in the UK now operate at 100% capacity or more. For instance, the trust I work for, just like many others, has significantly reduced the number of beds over the years, leading to the current self-inflicted disaster.
Apart from the obvious issues this situation presents, it’s worth noting that hospitals with a bed occupancy rate of 90% or higher have more than 40% higher rates of the MRSA superbug compared to those with occupancy rates below 85%, which is the norm in most European countries.
As a doctor, I have personally witnessed the dire consequences of this bed shortage. Patients in need of urgent psychiatric care for acute psychosis or suicidal depression often have to remain in A&E for days due to the lack of available beds in psychiatric wards. They are frequently detained under the Mental Health Act and have to be repeatedly sedated to maintain safety in the A&E environment.
This inhumane way of treating individuals urgently requiring care is simply unacceptable. The case of a patient who had to wait almost three days for a bed highlights the severity of the problem. This woman, suffering from schizophrenia and extreme paranoia, assaulted several staff members and tried to attack another patient while in A&E. Her family even attempted to secure a bank loan to have her admitted to a private psychiatric hospital for proper treatment.
Just this week, my trust sent out an email acknowledging that the scarcity of beds had reached emergency levels. The email advised staff on how to manage more patients at home, urged them to discharge patients as quickly as possible, and emphasized the need to avoid admitting new patients. As I read the email, I couldn’t help but realize that the root cause of this crisis is the reduction in bed numbers implemented by my trust and countless others.
While it’s true that many patients can be safely treated at home, there are times when a hospital bed is necessary. After all, that is the purpose of hospitals, isn’t it? Unfortunately, spending a day behind the scenes in the NHS today would cast doubt on this notion. Doctors are forced to scour the wards in search of potential early discharges, with managers exerting tremendous pressure to send patients home even when medical professionals know they require hospitalization. This pressure stems from the fact that some wards have been closed down, while the number of managers and related costs continue to rise.
To address the issue of delayed discharges, commonly referred to as ‘bed blocking’, we need to ensure adequate support and care home placements are available for patients. However, the solution is definitely not further cuts to bed numbers in already struggling hospitals.
George Clooney’s Supportive Role at DVF Awards
Amal Clooney had the privilege of having her husband, George Clooney, as her plus-one at the recent DVF Awards, held during the Venice Film Festival. The renowned human rights lawyer received recognition for her activism, and George attended the event in a low-profile manner, diverting attention to his wife. This arrangement allowed him to participate in the festival without violating the ban on promotional work due to the ongoing actor’s union dispute.
The photographs of George supporting Amal send a powerful message – regardless of fame or achievements, partners should always be there to support each other and be willing to step back and let the other shine.
The Misunderstanding of Victim Psychology in Sexual Assault Cases
In the wake of a sexual assault allegation, the under-fire Spanish football chief, Luis Rubiales, submitted footage to Fifa of the alleged victim, Jenni Hermoso, laughing at memes related to the incident. Rubiales believes this exonerates him from the accusation of sexual assault. However, this misconception highlights a lack of understanding of victims’ psychological responses following such traumatic experiences.
Victims of sexual assault often exhibit various responses, and immediate reactions are not always the norm. Depending on the individual and the circumstances, victims may initially attempt to make light of the situation as a coping mechanism. It is crucial to recognize that victims may laugh off the incident for various reasons, such as avoiding a scene, deflecting attention, or to alleviate further criticism.
Having worked with numerous victims of sexual assault and rape over the years, I have consistently witnessed societal expectations dictating how victims should behave to prove their non-consent. However, it is important to acknowledge that laughing off an assault does not diminish its severity. In fact, it is vital to understand that imposing an uninvited kiss on someone, as Rubiales did, is inappropriate and intrusive. Instances like this have occurred throughout my life, typically involving older men, and while I have never spoken out, I have always felt profoundly uncomfortable. Kissing someone on the lips is an intimate act reserved for established relationships.
Championing Voluntary National Service
Penny Mordaunt’s proposal to introduce voluntary National Service is something I have vocally supported for years.
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