Back in February, I wrote a piece in Yorkshire Bylines about my medical experiences over the last couple of years:
“The current government’s disregard for the NHS has shattered my livelihood, my quality of life, and is now gnawing away at my mental wellbeing. Some may dismiss this as merely personal, but when you are forced to choose between yourself and Bob the Patterdale as to who eats and witness your business spiral into oblivion, it then becomes profoundly personal. And if it’s happening to me, it’s surely happening to countless others as well.”
NHS visible and hidden backlogs
This week, NHS England figures appear to confirm my fears, showing the number of people waiting for routine hospital treatment in England has increased for the first time in seven months. By the end of April, 6.33 million patients were waiting for 7.57 million treatments, up from 6.29 million patients and 7.54 million treatments in March.
The British Medical Association (BMA) stated that the figures included around 3.16 million waiting over 18 weeks and over 302,600 waiting for more than a year, a slight decrease from about 309,300 in March 2024. The median waiting time for treatment was 13.9 weeks, nearly double the pre-Covid median wait of 7.2 weeks in April 2019.
The BMA also added that the waiting list is a visible backlog, but what we refer to as the growing ‘hidden backlog’ remains an unknown for the health service. The hidden backlog includes patients who require care but have not yet presented to healthcare providers. Furthermore, the referral to treatment waiting list does not include waiting for non-consultant-led treatment or patients waiting for follow-up appointments once they have begun treatment. Therefore, the number of patients included in the headline waiting list figures does not show the full extent of the backlog.
NHS waiting lists
NHS waiting lists are becoming a major issue in the general election campaign. Rishi Sunak had pledged to address this issue in January 2023 when the list was at 7.21 million treatments. During Sky News’ Battle for Number 10, Sunak claimed that waiting lists are “coming down” but acknowledged limited progress, blaming junior doctors’ strikes for delays.
The list peaked in September 2023 with 6.5 million patients awaiting 7.77 million treatments. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer promised to reduce waiting lists by creating 40,000 new appointments per week.
A personal account
Until last autumn, I thrived as a freelance researcher and writer in the heritage and arts sectors, collaborating with renowned names on exciting projects. However, medical issues have now confined me to the endless maze of hospital waiting lists. Politicians may boast about NHS investments and waiting list reductions, but they miss the real-life impact.
In summer 2021, an endoscopy revealed a condition limiting my physical activities. I have a new endoscopy this coming Thursday to revisit the problem. I have to admit that I am a little worried as over the last couple of months I have developed further problems, and two days ago was amazed to find that I have lost weight when I thought I was probably putting weight on. It may all be unconnected, but I will only be reassured after the endoscopy has proven that to be the case.
Medical history
In autumn 2022, my childhood epilepsy, dormant for four decades, resurfaced due to stress and anxiety. After escalating medications and waiting eight months for an MRI, I faced a cycle of cancelled neurology appointments, eventually seeing a neurologist in spring this year.
At Christmas 2022, I was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. I was placed on a waiting list exceeding 70 weeks, worsening my problems. Finally, after many weeks, I received an appointment to see a surgeon on June 21, 2024, only for it to be cancelled almost immediately.
Media assistance
Shocked by this, I took to social media to write about my problems. These posts were picked up by BBC Look North, who asked to interview me for an election piece on the NHS. I agreed, and the interview aired the next day.
Around noon that day, I received a notification from the hospital trust informing me that I had an appointment to see a surgeon on June 21, the exact appointment that had been cancelled weeks before. I contacted the BBC, and they confirmed that they had sent an email asking for comments on my case.
It seems too much of a coincidence that the two events are not connected, and I am extremely grateful to the BBC for their help. However, it is wrong that one has to resort to such actions. I feel partly guilty, wondering if someone’s appointment was cancelled to make way for me.
Crisis in the NHS
Professionally, I faced a major setback in the summer of 2022 when I lost permanent employment and shifted to self-employment, launching History and Heritage Yorkshire and a corresponding magazine. Although universal credit provided some support, my earning potential plummeted, leading to a significant loss of income, and increased mental strain.
My personal experience is just one example of the broader crisis facing the NHS and its patients. The government’s inaction and lack of substantial support for the NHS have led to a growing backlog that not only delays essential medical treatments but also profoundly impacts the lives and livelihoods of many individuals. The recent NHS England figures, showing an increase in waiting lists, validate the fears and frustrations that I, and many others, have experienced.
The struggle to balance health and professional responsibilities continues to be a significant challenge, underscoring the urgent need for political leaders to address these healthcare issues with effective and immediate solutions. Only then can we hope to see real improvement in the lives of patients and a return to a functional and supportive healthcare system.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO OUR CROWDFUNDER
HELP US BECOME STRONGER SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER POWERFUL CITIZEN JOURNALISM!
