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London hospitals at breaking point, NHS England warns
EC:
Via the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24508088
--- Quote ---London's hospitals are at "breaking point" and face a £4bn shortfall by 2020, NHS England has warned.
The organisation, which works to improve the NHS, says patient care will be harmed unless there is a "radical and urgent overhaul" of the service.
It said demands for healthcare will soon outstrip supply due to a rising and ageing population and increasing costs, making the NHS "unsustainable".
The Department of Health said the NHS should make £20bn of savings by 2015.
NHS England in London has outlined several factors which are putting pressure on the service in the capital. These include:
Life expectancy in London has risen by 5.2 years since 1990 - a year longer than the national average - but stark variations exist between boroughs
About 80% of premature deaths in London are attributable to lifestyle factors, such as alcohol, smoking, poor diet and a lack of exercise
More than 130,000 women give birth in London every year, and the birth rate is increasing by 3% a year.
The number of Londoners aged 65 and over is set to increase by 19% by 2020.
1 in 5 children in London are at risk of obesity
The rate of acute sexually transmitted diseases is higher in London than in any other region.
'Fundamentally change'
Dr Anne Rainsberry, regional director for NHS England, said: "Based on our expectations of patient demands and that we expect a period of flat financial growth, we are likely to have an affordability gap of £4bn in London by 2020
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More at link.
For the BBC to bit hitting at one of the sacred cows of UK politics is unnerving, to say the least.
mountaineer:
--- Quote ---For the BBC to bit hitting at one of the sacred cows of UK politics is unnerving, to say the least.
--- End quote ---
... but mildly encouraging, I trust.
GourmetDan:
--- Quote ---It said demands for healthcare will soon outstrip supply due to a rising and ageing population and increasing costs, making the NHS "unsustainable".
--- End quote ---
Socialized medicine always 'saves' money by restricting supply.
Olivia:
Yeah, they'll probably start doing what Obama has in mind for our older generation.
Deny them treatments and let them die off. Problem solved!
rustynail:
Time to thin out the Useless Eaters.
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