NI doctors: We can’t provide full services to non-Covid-19 patients

In a new British Medical Association (BMA) survey of its members here, 89% of respondents said they felt uneasy at being unable to provide care to the standard they would like during the pandemic, with over 46% stating that this feeling of uneasiness has worsened since October.

Over 66% of those surveyed said their current levels of fatigue or exhaustion are higher than normal.

Dr John D Woods, BMA’s Northern Ireland consultants committee chair, said: “We are entering the traditionally busy winter period with a third pandemic surge in progress. Elective care waiting lists now as bad as they have ever been and the feeling of frustration amongst clinicians at this situation is clearly laid bare in these survey findings.

“Over half of all doctors surveyed said they felt ‘anxious’ at being unable to see and treat patients at the appropriate time in their clinical setting or for procedures during the pandemic, with 46% saying this made them ‘angry’.

“We now need to make sure that there is clear planning for the next stages of the pandemic and clear messaging to the public as to why these restrictions are necessary.

“Forty-seven per cent of doctors told us that they and their colleagues were managing well, but they would not be able to do that indefinitely.”

The survey, conducted between December 15 and 17, also found that doctors were very concerned at what effect the relaxation of Covid restrictions would have on their workloads and the healthcare system as a whole.

Over 72% said they were “extremely concerned” about the potential for an increase in the level of Covid-related demand on the healthcare system as a result of Christmas relaxation period, while 65% said they expected a ‘significant increase’ in their workloads in the weeks immediately following Christmas.

“These answers tell us that doctors have a genuinely heightened sense of worry at what lies ahead after Christmas in terms of patient care and service delivery,” continued Dr Woods.

“Therefore, it is imperative on us all to do what we can to control the spread of this virus within our communities over the Christmas period and before the new lockdown period takes effect from Boxing Day.”

Adding that many doctors surveyed were considering reducing their hours in future, Dr Woods said once the pandemic is over, there is much work to be done to “repair our health system and make it fit for purpose and one in which doctors will want to work”.