[ad_1]
fake pictures
People should seek medical attention when they need it and not be discouraged by the coronavirus epidemic, say doctors, charities, and the health service.
They warn that anyone who delays seeking treatment is putting their long-term health and life at risk.
Half the usual number of people go to A&E, and treatment for heart attacks and strokes has decreased.
Seeking medical help is one of the four reasons people can safely leave the home, according to government guidance.
“Ignoring the problems can have serious consequences, now or in the future,” says NHS England chief Sir Simon Stevens.
“So if you or your loved one have symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, if a parent is concerned about their child, or if they are concerned about conditions like cancer, you should seek help the way you always would.” .
A public information campaign that persuades people to use the health service will be staffed by the NHS and will begin next week.
It occurs when the UK’s chief medical adviser, Professor Chris Whitty, warns of the impact of deaths from causes other than Covid-19 during the shutdown.
Despite efforts by the NHS to free thousands of beds across the country and build new Nightingale hospitals in recent weeks, there is concern that people are not using the NHS because they don’t want to be a burden or because they are concerned about catching the virus.
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth warned that the government needed to switch to a testing and contact tracing model for those who had the virus so they could isolate themselves, otherwise other health problems would accumulate.
“Or we are locked up during those 18 months, which is clearly unsustainable for the economy and means other health problems are mounting,” he told the BBC breakfast.
“People don’t go to the hospital, people’s treatment is canceled, people with cancer don’t get the treatment they need.”
fake pictures
How to get help
- Go to your GP practice, use NHS 111 online or call 111 if you need medical help
- Call 999 in emergencies
- Go to the hospital if they say you should
The figures suggest that half the number of people will go to Accident and Emergency departments in hospitals in England this month, compared to April 2019.
And experts say they are concerned that people are not receiving life-threatening treatment for heart attacks and strokes, with a 50% drop in the number of people seeking medical help for heart symptoms.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation, said it was “vitally important” that thousands of people in the UK with existing heart conditions access care “immediately” if their condition worsens .
‘Children get sick’
There are also concerns that children may be losing medical attention during the pandemic.
“Children are unlikely to be unwell with Covid, but they get sick and when this happens we want to see them,” said Professor Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health.
There’s also a caveat that people shouldn’t dismiss strokes as “just a fun twist.”
Juliet Bouverie of the Stroke Association said a stroke was a medical emergency.
“The faster you are diagnosed and treated for a stroke, the better your chances of recovering well,” he said.
If you suspect that you or someone else might be having a stroke, call 999.
In other developments:
How has the coronavirus affected you? Share your experiences by email
[email protected]
.
Include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
