NHS now on the critical list

York is fortunate to have a good hospital staffed by expert, caring health professionals. Yet it is simply unable to cope with demand.

Last week, every bed was taken and there were 13 patients still waiting to be admitted. It is a disturbing thought that if you fall ill enough to require hospital treatment, a bed might not be available.

In the same week, 56 routine operations were cancelled, in the wake of 50 emergency admissions a day.

A visitor to the hospital from another European country might be forgiven for wondering what disaster had taken place to precipitate such scenes. Had there been a terrible accident? Was there a war on?

No. All that had happened was winter.

This year's crisis has peaked later than usual due to the New Year cold snap. Meanwhile, York's desperate lack of nursing home places continues to cause "bed blocking".

"No room at the hospital" has become a depressingly regular story, and it is repeated throughout Britain.

Today, a Kent health authority despatched patients to a French hospital for their operations. But this is no solution for the North Yorkshire pensioner awaiting a hip operation. Someone barely able to walk could never undertake such a stressful journey, taking them so far from friends and family.

York District Hospital will benefit from the Government's increased health investment. But new thinking is as much needed as new money if the NHS is to revive.

Unfortunately, Health Secretary Alan Milburn's big idea - to bring in private sector managers to run hospitals - is too close to the Tories disastrous NHS internal market to inspire confidence.

Over at Railtrack, business managers who knew nothing about the railways are finally being replaced by rail engineers. Yet the Government wants to bring in business managers who know nothing about health care to run our hospitals.

And this from New Labour, who promised "joined up thinking".

Updated: 10:19 Friday, January 18, 2002