Planning ahead to solve NHS chaos

DEAR Editor, Here we go again, chaos in the NHS, which is no different from any other year. I really think that a large proportion of the problem is a lack of forward planning.

This winter the government has ordered the cancellation of all non-urgent operations, hoping to ease the build-up of pressure on the system.

This should never have been necessary if the highly-paid NHS managers have any idea of forward planning.

If they plied their trade in private industry, they would not last five minutes. It is a fact that people get upset when they are given something and it is then taken away from them. This is true whether it be appointments, benefits, presents or whatever.

So is there a solution to the ongoing wintertime chaos?

Every year from December through to the end of January they should arrange very few or even zero appointments for routine operations in any hospital.

This means nobody will be upset by having their operation cancelled.

Then if a hospital is in the happy position of having free beds, theatre time and enough staff, they can contact patients to see if they will have their operation on short notice.

I am sure that most people would be prepared to accept a quick appointment and complaints of cancellations not due to emergencies, would be reduced to zero.

This is a really simple method of reducing the absolute chaos that the NHS suffers year in, year out. A Baker, Longbridge