Medics tell of ‘perfect storm’ of NHS issues
BY ANDY PHILIP STRESSED-OUT doctors have warned they’re under intense pressure as the NHS struggles to meet demand.
Leading medics raised their concerns with a cross-party group of politicians at Holyrood yesterday.
One consultant claimed over-worked staff are looking after more people than their counterparts in other “first world” countries.
A demo was held outside showing support for a doctor who was struck off the medical register after the death of six-year-old patient Jack Adcock at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Dr Hadiza BawaGarba‘s supporters say she was under “unbearable pressure”.
Outside Holyrood, Dr Hina Naz Abbasi, a consultant neurologist at the Glasgow Institute of Neurological Sciences, said: “We have a similar working situation.
“We are all under pressure – in fact, there are some areas in Scotland where we are more short-staffed. We are stressed, exhausted, we have to look after people who are serving the NHS as well.”
Dr Abbasi said there is one neurologist for 150,000 people, adding: “It is nowhere near any international standard.”
The summit was hosted by Labour MSP Anas Sarwar. He has already called for Health Secretary Shona Robison to quit over problems in the NHS – and he criticised her for not attending yesterday.
“Those on the frontline say there is now a ‘perfect storm’ with a culture lacking compassion, where doctors suffering stress and burnout do not feel supported and instead are concerned about a blame culture,” he said.
“This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.”