The challenges faced by the NHS are far from over as we approach the new year, the effects of COVID-19 have added to the strain from lost workers and new policies for people wishing to work in this country. An industry which relies heavily on migration.
Evidence shows that immigration makes a positive contribution to the NHS and now staff shortages are being classed as severe, following the loss of international workers and the added weight that has been forced on remaining workers.
During the pandemic those who were seeking care for medical issues other than COVID-19 found themselves further down the waiting list as the number of cases were brought forward. Backlog remained getting longer and the stress put on each worker began to grow, and still does.
This completely supports the ideas and evidence of the positives that come with fully cared for staff. Proving that the mass loss that comes with restricting rules for international workers and limited support for the healthcare industry affects everyone, not just a few.
These backlogs put people’s medical needs on hold, some that have no time for the delay. Forcing many into unaffordable alternatives, such as, people travelling out of the country to get the help they desperately need. Help that is restricted by price and COVID-19 rules enforced in the destination countries.
All this added weight creates a huge mental toll on those working within healthcare, adding long term damage to workers mental health. Which is why the increase in staff needs to happen soon before the pressure gets to an all-time high and this country finds its healthcare industries at a breaking point.
One that other countries are also likely to follow as carers and other healthcare staff are being left without the necessary equipment and support that is needed within the industry.
It is true that no one has been fully prepared for the impacts of COVID-19, but it has left many wondering why rules for situations like this one were not already in place.
Luckily, recent discussions on an International Pandemic Treaty are being raised by the World Health Organisation with each country pushing forward different ideas. This treaty will take a few years to be put in place and therefore, no agreements have been made yet. We are all just hoping that each countries leaders will listen to its healthcare workers.
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Issues such as staff absences only add more pressure on the already stressful and busy industry.
