NHS ‘short of docs’
THE NHS in England is short of an estimated 50,000 doctors ahead of what is expected to be one of the worst winters on record, the British Medical Association has warned.
The BMA said that the number of doctors in England had fallen behind comparable European Union countries, with 2.8 doctors per 1,000 people compared to an EU average of 3.7. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, said that with flu season on the horizon and fewer staff, it was unknown how the NHS will cope over winter.