Government blamed for A&E crisis

The UNISON health service union has blamed the growing problems in accident and emergency provision on “massive disorganisation” by the government.

Its comments came after David Prior, the chair of NHS regulator the Care Quality Commission, said that rising attendances at A&E departments are out of control and unsustainable.

Speaking at a conference organised by the King’s Fund think tank, Prior recommended hospital bed closures and relieving pressure on hospitals by reaching patients through earlier intervention via care in the community.

But Christina McAnea, UNISON head of health, said the reason that demand in A&E is out of control is because the government has torn away support in the community, dismantled the NHS Direct medical helpline and cut staff.

“Bed occupancy in hospitals is running high, so the idea of prematurely cutting beds is simply not viable and could put lives at risk,” she said. She pointed out that the elderly make up a large proportion of those seeking care and their lifeline in the community has been severed by government cuts.

McAnea said the public is being misled into thinking that the new 111 service operates like NHS Direct.

She added: “It does not employ the same level of trained nursing support and is a checklist service that has already had some devastating consequences. This is adding to pressure on staff in already busy A&Es.”