28.04.20
NHS set to begin restarting cancer and mental health services
Having been put on hold as the healthcare service rushed to get out in front of the coronavirus outbreak, the NHS is now set to begin restoring some services which were put on hold, with the “exact pace” services would return at being left to the discretion of individual trusts.
Beginning with the most urgent services, such as cancer care and mental health support, the restoration of services will allow some sense of normalcy to return for patients requiring treatment for non-coronavirus conditions.
Around the country, the healthcare service’s inspired response to the Covid-19 pandemic has seen some trusts have spare capacity, prompting the NHS to begin this restoration process.
Making the announcement during government’s daily coronavirus briefing yesterday (April 27, 2020), Health Secretary Matt Hancock said individual trusts would be left to make decisions of what services could return, guided by local demand and considerations over how many Covid-19 patients were being treated in each hospital.
Mr Hancock said: “As the number of hospitalisations from coronavirus begins to fall, I can announce that, starting tomorrow, we'll begin the restoration of other NHS services.
“Starting with the most urgent, like cancer care and mental health support.
“The exact pace of the restoration will be determined by local circumstances on the ground, according to local need, and according to the amount of coronavirus cases that hospital is having to deal with.”
As the coronavirus outbreak continues, concerns are mounting about the effect of the pandemic on other health conditions, as well as patients potentially requiring treatment who are instead staying away. In response, the Health Secretary urged patients to continue to utilise the NHS with other health concerns as normal should they need to.
Rapid innovation and adoption of technological advancements throughout NHS services have also helped combat the challenges of the coronavirus outbreak, with the Health Secretary praising the steps taken to overcome this unprecedented situation.
Main Image Credit: Pippa Fowles/DPA/PA Images