Opinion

Vital that non-coronavirus patients continue to be treated

The coronavirus crisis and the anticipated upsurge in patient numbers necessitated a fast and radical reconfiguring of the health service.

Decisions that would normally take months or even years to discuss, consider and implement were introduced at incredible speed as hospitals geared up for the expected influx of people requiring high level intervention, including the use of a ventilator in intensive care.

As part of that strategy, a range of measures were put in place, including suspending routine cancer screening, cancelling some operations and using telephone consultations to reduce the number of patients attending hospitals or GP surgeries.

There is no doubt that in terms of flattening the curve of infections and preventing the health service becoming overwhelmed, those steps, in conjunction with severe lockdown restrictions, have proved effective.

So far, thankfully, we have capacity in our hospitals with enough ventilators and ICU beds to cope with this first wave of cases.

But as this peak passes and knowing that we will have to continue with social distancing and other steps for an unknown length of time, concerns have been raised about patients who have health conditions unrelated to coronavirus.

People needing transplants or cancer surgery simply cannot afford to wait and hopefully they are being dealt with as a matter of urgency.

There are also those who may have serious conditions as yet undiagnosed but are reluctant to go to their GP or emergency department because they are afraid of becoming infected with Covid-19 or because they do not want to overburden the health service.

However, the clear message from the medical professionals and elected representatives is the same - the health service is open for business.

Anyone who has a health concern is told to contact their GP as usual or in the case of an emergency such as a heart attack or stroke, to call the ambulance service.

In particular, parents are urged to seek medical advice if they are worried about a sick child.

It is important the message goes out that GPs and other health professionals are there to provide advice and treatment to people who are unwell for reasons other than Covid-19.

The focus right now is on coronavirus but there are many other serious illnesses out there that cannot be put on hold until this pandemic is over.