While coronavirus is killing hundreds of people a day in Britain, millions face the insidious threat of delay in diagnosis and treatment of other serious illnesses.
Towards the end of last year, the backlog of patients was estimated at over four million, no doubt increased by the latest wave.
Hospitals can barely cope with the surge in coronavirus patients, let alone treat patients suffering from other life threatening complaints.
The NHS sounded the alarm months ago of patients dying untreated at home through failing to get treatment.
It was not just a case of no hospital beds but patients’ reluctance to visit clinics or go to their GPs due to safety worries, and to ease the burden on the health service.
Last summer a successful effort was made to tackle the backlog but that was halted by the resurgence.
The ONS - Office for National Statistics - reported one-third more deaths from heart disease in a year and the British Heart Foundation warned that we faced a tidal wave of untreated cases. Macmillan Cancer Support reported 50,000 diagnosed patients in the queue.
I am one of the millions waiting for long delayed treatment and clinic appointments - for five complaints.
The delays in my appointment with the opthalmic consultant for 20 March last year, the first day of lockdown for care homes, is especially worrying.
I have been diagnosed with the same condition suffered for years by my wife Rosemary who almost lost her sight.
The sooner coronavirus is defeated the happier and more relieved I shall be.
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