As the NHS is facing a difficult winter period with staff trying to manage a surge in demand caused by the pandemic, winter flu and an increasing backlog of cases, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh welcomes today’s announcement of an additional £3 billion for the NHS, as well as the news that over one million NHS workers are set to receive a pay increase.
Moreover, given that Covid has significantly disrupted planned surgery, we are particularly pleased to see £1 billion earmarked to deal with the backlog of elective surgical cases. The NHS conducts 750,000 operations a week, many of which were postponed or cancelled during the pandemic. This backlog will take several years to clear and this funding is badly needed to support that effort.
Nevertheless, we wait to hear details of precisely how this money will be deployed. The key issue for dealing with the backlog is having an appropriately skilled and experienced surgical team being able to deliver care in Covid-secure environments.
We are therefore keen to engage with the Department of Health, the NHS, and all other stakeholders to ensure this funding is utilised most effectively whilst maintaining the NHS’s high standards of care.