Cautious optimism as hospital attendance starts to increase
There are early signs people are starting to return to hospital A&E departments now the lockdown has been eased, an NHS boss has said.
Toby Lewis, chief executive of Sandwell's NHS trust, said there were encouraging signs that confidence in hospitals was returning but that numbers were still way down compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Health bosses have been alarmed by the huge drop in people attending A&E departments across the region, amid fears some with serious conditions are refusing to seek treatment and potentially putting their lives at risk.
Attendance has been down by almost half at some Black Country hospitals since lockdown was imposed in March.
Mr Lewis, whose trust runs Sandwell General and Birmingham City hospitals, said he hoped as lockdown continues to be eased more people would feel confident hospitals are safe.
He previously said he believed some were reluctant to go to hospitals either because they believed they would place an extra burden on under-pressure NHS staff or they feared catching Covid-19.
Concerns were such that the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust struck an agreement with West Midlands Ambulance Service to be provided with a list of patients who had refused treatment, so doctors could attempt to persuade them to change their minds.
Mr Lewis said in his latest report to trust board members: "We know that public confidence in reaching for care is crucial to the health outcomes that we can achieve this year and next.
"Falls in demand during March, April and May have been significant. There are rises in recent days, and it is to be hoped that lockdown changes bring renewed attendance where that is clinically necessary.
"The risk reflected in the risk register is that such demand is later onset disease that is more difficult to treat. Working with primary care partners we need to publicise the separateness and safety of our #greenshoot facilities.
"These issues of confidence are perhaps especially important for diagnostic services as well as for cancer care. Presently we continue to offer surgery from off-site private hospital locations."
