[ad_1]
My beloved daughter-in-law’s life-saving heart surgery was canceled as she prepared to leave home for her operation on Monday. The reason: the lack of staff. For me, this confirmed the current reality of the fears expressed in your article (Rising Covid cases will put intense pressure on the NHS, bosses warn, July 12).
Her only child was born under confinement in April 2020, 10 weeks prematurely due to her mother’s heart disease. Two and a half months later, they were finally able to come home and settle into family life with my stepson in their studio. This room has been their kitchen, bedroom, nursery, living room and anti-virus workspace for over a year. They faced their predicament, past delays and the danger inherent in an operation wonderfully as caring, positive and united parents.
Monday’s cancellation was a big blow. Despite all their courage, fatigue, anxiety and fear were in the background. A new date has been proposed, but they are concerned about the effects on the NHS of the increased number of cases.
I am worried too. Covid is coming home to many vulnerable families like ours due to the chronic stress suffered by NHS staff, the increase in Covid hospitalizations and the likely decimation of service capacity by the app’s pings imprecise of the NHS.
And I am angry. For those awaiting treatment, physical and mental health deteriorates and the outlook worsens because of this government’s callousness and incompetence. Sunday night at Wembley we witnessed the effects of government policy and messages on the reckless behavior of the people. The few, like our little family, are waiting behind closed doors for the treatment of an increasingly compromised and exhausted NHS.
Maybe my daughter-in-law will be lucky and have surgery soon. Maybe she’ll finally come home to be a carefree mom to her beautiful daughter. I hope.
Name and address provided
For 16 months, many people with diabetes have made incredibly difficult decisions about life, family and work, in an attempt to protect themselves as the pandemic has devastated communities across the UK.
The pandemic has disproportionately affected people with diabetes and many will be deeply concerned about the upcoming lifting of coronavirus restrictions in England. We understand and share their concerns.
Vaccines work and remain the best way for people with diabetes to protect themselves from the virus. We urge all eligible people to get vaccinated without delay. We also want the public to remember that masks protect others and to think about those with conditions that put them at greater risk.
But encouraging people to exercise good judgment after July 19 doesn’t go far enough, and we’re concerned that counseling for clinically extremely vulnerable people – many of whom have diabetes in addition to other serious illnesses – will offer little protection. and simply place the responsibility on individuals to try to navigate their lives with fear and anxiety.
As England enters this third wave, we fear the enormous pressure on the NHS and healthcare professionals over the past 16 months will continue, and diabetes care – which has already suffered – will continue to fight against canceled and delayed appointments.
Putting more pressure on our already stretched NHS by lifting restrictions at this crucial time could be devastating and have long-term consequences for those living with long-term health issues like diabetes.
As restrictions are lifted, we expect the government to watch closely and, if the situation calls for it, to act immediately through laws and policies to protect clinically vulnerable people and the NHS.
Chris Askew
Managing Director, Diabetes UK
Source link
