Unwell urged to stay at home as NHS continues to buckle over lack of funding and job vacancies

Scotland’s national clinical director has urged those who are unwell to stay away from work in order to help the NHS.

Jason Leitch said people should not “lose hope” about the state of the health service, which has come under severe pressure.

On Tuesday, senior medics said they have never been more concerned about the standards of acute medical care in hospitals across the UK.

Some have described ambulances queueing outside emergency departments and being forced to treat patients outside the doors of the hospital.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme, Professor Leitch said accident and emergency departments are not the only part of the health service feeling the squeeze.

He said: “If we lose hope, then we’re in trouble. So there are things we can do in the system to make it better.”

The UK Conservative Government have been accused of repeatedly ignoring the problems that have left the NHS at breaking point after 13 years of shameful underfunding.

And despite the situation being of No10’s making, Health ­Secretary Steve Barclay has tried to shift the blame on to Covid, flu and Strep A.

Speaking to Sky News, UNISON’s deputy head of health, Helga Pine said a major issue was retaining staff, as the government continue to ignore pleas for nursing pay negotiations. “NHS workers can’t give good care when they’re going to work hungry,” she said.

“We’re asking the government to listen. There are 130,000 vacancies in the NHS in England, and pay is a big art of this staffing crisis.”

The NHS is in the depths of its worst-ever crisis.

Sunak and Barclay are nowhere to be seen.

It’s a total disgrace.https://t.co/iXKcjvhrIf

— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) January 2, 2023

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting accused Mr Barclay and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of hiding away. He said: “Everything’s ‘normal’ in the NHS according to the ­Government. This breathtaking complacency explains why Rishi Sunak and Steve Barclay are nowhere to be seen.

“Negligent, irresponsible, and a risk to the public’s health.”

Prof Leitch also said it would not be a “bad idea” for people across the country to wear face masks in public places.

“That will be no bad thing for Scotland and the UK to inherit from the Covid pandemic,” he said.

He asked people to use the health service “wisely”, noting that 500,000 have used NHS inform to look up details of Strep A.

He also asked people to be patient with services like NHS 24 due to high demand.

Those who are sick should stay at home, he said, adding: “It means not going to your office, not going to drive that bus.

“If you have a virus, if you’re not well, you should stay at home.”