NHS struggles to recover five years after Covid-19

Dr. Helen Wall, a GP in Greater Manchester, has highlighted the ongoing struggles of the NHS five years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. She described how the demands on healthcare have drastically increased since the pandemic. During the Covid-19 crisis, Dr. Wall played a significant role in Bolton's health response. She worked tirelessly while managing her own family concerns. Now, she believes the NHS may never return to its pre-Covid state. The backlog of medical issues and the rise in mental health cases are two major challenges still affecting services. Dr. Wall noted that many patients now face longer wait times for procedures, sometimes up to two years for surgery. This has led to an increase in GP appointments as patients require more help while waiting for treatments. The Covid-19 pandemic transformed how people seek healthcare, pushing practices to adopt more digital methods of communication, such as online consultations. While these changes have made services more accessible, they have also led to overwhelming demand for care. Many patients now reach out for minor health issues that they might have ignored in the past. Dr. Wall described this shift as an "Amazon Prime culture," where people expect quick access to services. The increased pressure on GPs has resulted in lower job satisfaction and challenges in staffing. Many healthcare workers are leaving the profession, further straining the system. Dr. Wall expressed concern that the loss of personal relationships between GPs and patients is impacting the quality of care and trust. Overall, Dr. Wall emphasized the need for more support and funding to address the challenges facing the NHS. She understands the frustrations of patients and shares in their experiences, but she urged that anger should not be directed at healthcare workers, who are also dealing with the system's pressures.