NHS in Crisis: Surgeons Can Only Operate One Day Every Two Weeks
Surgeons across England are barely able to carry out scheduled operations, with doctors forced to operate just one day every two weeks. The stark warning comes from Prof Neil Mortensen, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
This shocking squeeze comes amid a record NHS backlog. Staff shortages and a lack of theatre space mean millions of patients wait months for treatment.
Massive Strikes Will Wreck NHS Services
The NHS faces its harshest strike action yet, with protests hitting 125 hospitals across England. Starting Sunday evening, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) plans to withdraw from A&E, cancer wards, and intensive care units.
Health chiefs warn staffing will be “exceptionally low,” risking further chaos. The RCN insists “life and limb care” will continue, but patient care faces severe disruption.
England Trails Behind Europe in Surgery Time
Prof Mortensen revealed surgeons in France and Germany operate planned procedures three days a week — England manages just one day every fortnight.
The crunch is due to a dire shortage of operating theatres and vital support staff like anaesthetists and scrub nurses. Surgeons are bogged down with emergency cases and clinics, slashing time for planned operations.
Staff strikes have made matters worse, forcing half a million cancelled operations and appointments nationwide.
Hospitals Beg for Help as Crisis Deepens
Great Ormond Street Hospital CEO Mat Shaw has begged the RCN to spare children’s services from strikes. The landmark hospital has declared a “severe business continuity incident” after exhausting all staffing options, including military support.
With seven million on NHS waiting lists and no clear end in sight, the UK’s health system teeters on the edge of collapse.
