The UK government has been urged not to forget about people with long term conditions such as cancer and long Covid as NHS staff are redeployed to ensure all adults receive a booster jab before the end of the year.
Earlier this week, health secretary Sajid Javid told Parliament about the “difficult trade offs” as the NHS focuses on delivering booster jobs to fight the spread of Omicron leading to the delay of some urgent appointments and elective surgery.
Commenting on Javid’s statement, Working To Wellbeing managing director Julie Denning told Health & Protection that during the course of the pandemic she has noticed the impact on her patients with long term conditions including those living with and beyond cancer and long Covid.
“Early intervention and support are key to supporting people with such conditions and we mustn’t lose sight of their needs in the juggle with booster vaccinations,” Denning added.
“Delays in accessing healthcare can be devastating from both a physical and psychological perspective.”
Warnings have been coming thick and fast from a range of sources about the strain being felt by the NHS as a result of dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and the govenment’s failure to invest in services during the last decade.
Last month NHS England figures revealed the waiting list had already soared to almost six million people with around 1.5m people joining the list each month.
And earlier this month the National Audit Office warned that waiting lists could reach 12 million by 2025, and even a 10% increase in treatment levels would only reduce this to seven million.
