Funding in the NHS has always been an issue within the country, but an increase in waiting lists in Sheffield Teaching Hospitals is causing significant concern.
The NHS is severely underfunded, especially in Northern England. Sheffield hospitals seem to be having particular issues with giving care to those in need. In fact, in the last couple of years, the numbers only seem to be rising. Approximately 94,000 people are still waiting for care in the city. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is struggling to keep up with the numbers, the staff are under a lot of pressure and are also being underpaid.
Most have to wait weeks, if not months till they can be seen by a doctor. This is leading to major strikes within the NHS, nurses in particular.
NHS Workers Say No! has posted a general statement saying “[…] we have had enough of our patients receiving unsafe care, in an understaffed and underfunded service […]”
“NHS staff are overdue an above inflation pay rise.”
Sheffield Labour Councillor Ruth Milsom, who is also a long-time NHS campaigner responded to the waiting list that has been increasing in the last few months.
“Through 12 years of government, they have failed to tackle issues of recruitment, retention, funding, and capacity across the NHS system. Waiting lists had already risen on their watch from 2.5m in 2010 to a then-record 4.2m in March 2020 before the pandemic struck. Cabinet Ministers accept that, under the Tories, ‘pandemic preparation was found wanting and inadequate,’ admitting that it is their own failures since 2010 that have led to this latest crisis.”
The people living in Sheffield are being deeply affected by this, whether they be students or working members of the community. It poses a serious issue when people with chronic illnesses or repetitive issues cannot be seen quickly.
Alice Mason, 3rd-year university student at Sheffield said: “As someone with chronic health conditions, it can get very stressful. I understand that the NHS is overworked but most of the time I need to wait weeks until I can see a doctor. It can be very disheartening and sometimes I wish I stayed with my home doctors.”
