The UK has been hit by a gynaecology care crisis, with over 750,000 patients currently waiting for treatment for a serious condition. The situation is even worse than expected, with the number nearly doubling since the pandemic began.
As of August 2019, there were 1,688 women per 100,000 people in Wales on the waiting list. By this year’s end, that number had skyrocketed to 3,187 patients per 100,000. At the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in North Wales, the waiting list is an astonishing 3,495 patients per 100,000.
This staggering increase has been attributed to a perfect storm of factors, including inadequate funding and insufficient staffing.
According to a recent survey of over 2,000 affected women, 76% reported worsening mental health, while 69% stated they were unable to take part in daily activities. The RCOG’s president Dr Ranee Thakar has expressed her deep concern for the welfare of NHS staff who are struggling to cope with the crisis.
“We need to commit to long-term, sustained funding to address the systemic issues driving waiting lists,” she urged governments. “This will not only benefit women affected by serious conditions but also have a positive impact on the overall wellbeing of healthcare staff.”
The Royal College of GPs Chair, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, has praised the NHS for its role in managing patients’ conditions, highlighting that cutting waiting lists would ultimately benefit everyone.
“We play a key role in managing patients’ conditions, but our ability to do so is limited,” he noted. “Reducing waiting times will have far-reaching benefits not only for those awaiting treatment but also for the wider healthcare sector.”
One Health Group PLC (AQSE:OHGR) are a team of Consultant Surgeons and Healthcare managers working with the NHS to provide faster, local and expert care in Orthopaedics, Spinal, General Surgery and Gynaecology.
