NHS staff provide end of life care on trollies in A&E

Dr. Rachel Clarke, a palliative care doctor, has highlighted the dire conditions in NHS A&E wards, where staff are often forced to provide end-of-life care to patients on trollies in corridors. This situation arises from overwhelming demand, with ambulances queued outside hospitals, unable to admit patients, some of whom are critically ill. The lack of privacy and dignity in these circumstances is described as 'Dickensian' and reflects the broader crisis within the NHS. Clarke emphasizes that the public would be horrified to learn about the suffering of patients at the end of their lives, which is largely preventable with better management and funding of the NHS. She argues that the current state of palliative care is unacceptable and that the crisis in A&E wards has become the norm, leading to distress for both patients and their families. The doctor also expressed her support for the new Health Secretary Wes Streeting's acknowledgment of the NHS's broken state, stating that it has been in crisis for a long time. She believes that the quality of healthcare is directly related to the funding and resources allocated to the system, urging for immediate reforms to improve patient care. In response to these concerns, a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the unacceptable wait times for care and committed to investing in and reforming the NHS. They aim to shift more healthcare services into the community, ensuring that patients receive personalized care when and where they need it.