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Winter crisis is now the ‘year-round norm’, says BMA

The NHS is in a year-round crisis which requires the next government to immediately increase NHS funding to the levels seen in France, Germany and other comparable states, the BMA has said.The NHS is in a year-round crisis which requires the next government to immediately increase NHS funding to the levels seen in France, Germany and other comparable states, the BMA has said.

Analysis published by the BMA today shows that NHS Trust’s performance this winter hit record lows, despite mild weather and no major flu or norovirus outbreaks.

Bed occupancy, delayed transfers of care and waits at A&E are all increasing and are set to get worse, but the Government has said it will no longer be bound by waiting times targets.

The BMA is demanding the next government quit ‘ducking this crisis’ and:

  • Invests in workforce to better retain doctors;
  • Prioritises career-long training;
  • Halts the repeated breaches on safe bed occupancy levels;
  • Ensure that the Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships springing up across England are evidence-based and appropriately funded, with a focus on care not savings.

BMA chair Dr Mark Porter said: ‘Politicians are consistently missing their own targets across the health system and the NHS is clearly at breaking point.

‘Pressures previously only seen during the winter months are now becoming the norm year-round, as current trends suggest that performance will continue to deteriorate rather than improve.

‘We call on politicians of all parties not to duck this crisis any longer.’