In the run up to the General Election, a heartbreaking image of a 4 year old, trying to sleep on a pile of coats on the floor of A&E emergency.
Jack Williment-Barr had been taken to the Emergency Department by his mother with suspected pneumonia. He reportedly was given a bed on arrival to the paediatric emergency department however it was quickly needed for another child who was sicker.
Jack’s mother, Sarah, said “It was chaos. The NHS is in crisis… It was so busy. There are just not enough beds.”
Dr Natalie Ashburner, DAUK letter and Wellbeing Lead discussed this issue on her interview with Radio Aire.
She reiterated the impossible circumstances in which doctors are working, and the impact of staff of not being able to give patients the care they deserve.
“We all come to work to do our job to the best of our abilities and it’s really tough for staff when they feel that they are not able to do that because of things that our outside of their control”