A HOSPITAL consultant has urged people to write to their MP or join a campaigning organisation to protect the NHS against privatisation.

In a letter to the Journal, Dr Robert Scott-Jupp, a consultant paediatrician at Salisbury District Hospital, said the hospital was in a "winter crisis" which was "entirely predictable, as a direct result of cuts to health services and cuts to social care".

He said: "On Thursday (January 5), all consultants at the hospital received a message stating every bed in the hospital is full, emergency department majors is full with no more physical spaces to see patients and ambulances are queuing outside."

Routine operations were postponed due to the hospital experiencing the highest level of demand on resources which saw it trigger its most serious status, known as OPEL 4.

Consultants were also told that “all other local hospitals were in a similar situation”.

Dr Scott-Jupp said: “We were asked to do all we could to alleviate this dire situation.

"Many readers will have been affected by this crisis.

“It is not the fault of the health professionals, nor of the hospital managers who are also struggling.

“This winter crisis was entirely predictable, as a direct result of cuts to health services and cuts to social care.

“Government actively decided not to do anything to relieve the inevitable pressure even though ministers knew that this would happen, not just in Salisbury but throughout the country.

"There are powerful voices close to government who want to see the NHS fail because they are ideologically opposed to publicly-provided healthcare."

Highlighting the only solution as being increased central government funding, he urged people to write to MP John Glen or join a campaigning organisation such as Keep our NHS Public.

He said: “If you or your family have been subjected to long waits for urgent treatment, have been sent home without adequate support, or had operations cancelled, then don’t blame those of us who work in the NHS. Blame this government’s deliberate policy.”

On Friday, the hospital urged people to “think carefully” about whether they needed to visit the Emergency Department, saying it was only for “life-threatening emergencies”.

A spokesman said: "The hospital is currently very busy and while we have plans in place to deal with additional demands during the winter period we would like to remind people to think carefully and make the right decision about how they use local health services and get the advice that they need.

"Pharmacists are experts in many areas of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets.

"If people are not sure where to go, they can ring NHS 111, which is available 24/7.

"NHS 111 staff can provide advice and direct people to the best service for their needs.

"A&E departments and the ambulance service are for life threatening emergencies only such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped.”

Towards the end of last year, NHS England published a new system of Operational Pressure Escalation Levels (OPELs), which are numbered.

OPEL 1 means services are working normally and OPEL 4 indicates that organisations are unable to deliver comprehensive care, with increased potential for patient care and safety to be compromised.

  • Earlier this week a spokesman for Salisbury District Hospital confirmed pressure on the hospital had eased slightly with it now registering at OPEL 3.