An NHS under pressure

We provide an overview of the main pressure points in the NHS before and due to COVID-19 and what the BMA is doing to address them. 
NHS pressures waiting list

The NHS is experiencing some of the most severe pressures in its 75-year history. The COVID-19 pandemic is just the tip of the iceberg - the health service has been facing years of inadequate planning and chronic under-resourcing.

This page is an overview of the main pressure points in the NHS.

Last updated: 10 October 2023

 

Nations - our analysis on NHS pressures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Scotland An overview of key pressures faced by the NHS in Scotland.
Wales An overview of key pressures faced by the NHS in Wales.
Northern Ireland An overview of key pressures faced by Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland.
Our analysis on NHS pressures in England
Mental health analysis > Our analysis on mental health services in the NHS - trends in demand, workforce, funding, and beds. Updated monthly with new data.
NHS backlog analysis > Our analysis on capacity in secondary care services - backlog, waiting times and emergency care. Updated monthly with new data.
Pressures in general practice analysis > Our analysis of data on the pressures in general practice - GP and partner numbers, trends and recruitment. Updated monthly with new data.
Medical staffing shortages analysis > Our analysis of health workforce data - shortages and trends. Updated monthly with new data.
Funding analysis > Our analysis looks at NHS and social care funding - how it has changed over time, the impact of COVID-19, regional differences and growth.
Diagnostics analysis > We look at data on demand for diagnoses versus capacity, waiting lists for tests and the impact of COVID-19, and diagnostic workforce numbers.
Hospital beds analysis > We look at NHS bed data compared to other countries, bed stocks over time, the impact of COVID-19, safety breaches and intensive care capacity.
Attrition in the medical workforce > When and why do doctors leave the UK workforce? This page summarises existing GMC reports and presents key data on medical attrition across the medical career pipeline.

BMA in the news

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BMA in the news