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Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-64151557
Covid and flu putting massive pressure on NHS - health secretary
Published 1 hour ago
By Nick Triggle
Health correspondent
Flu and Covid have put "massive pressure" on the NHS and reducing backlogs caused by the pandemic will "take time", Health Secretary Steve Barclay has said.
Speaking amid mounting concern over hospital delays, he said the government was working on freeing up beds.
He said this would relieve pressure in A&Es and on ambulance services.
It comes as a woman who waited 25 hours to be seen at an emergency department told the BBC it was "like a war movie".
Mr Barclay said people with conditions like heart disease had been reluctant to come forward for support at times during the pandemic - and this was a major factor in the demands now being seen.
He acknowledged the NHS was facing huge challenges, but said the government was providing extra funding to help...
Covid and flu putting massive pressure on NHS - health secretary
Published 1 hour ago
By Nick Triggle
Health correspondent
Flu and Covid have put "massive pressure" on the NHS and reducing backlogs caused by the pandemic will "take time", Health Secretary Steve Barclay has said.
Speaking amid mounting concern over hospital delays, he said the government was working on freeing up beds.
He said this would relieve pressure in A&Es and on ambulance services.
It comes as a woman who waited 25 hours to be seen at an emergency department told the BBC it was "like a war movie".
Mr Barclay said people with conditions like heart disease had been reluctant to come forward for support at times during the pandemic - and this was a major factor in the demands now being seen.
He acknowledged the NHS was facing huge challenges, but said the government was providing extra funding to help...