Doctor Charles Armitage is a former NHS Doctor and CEO of Florence, a healthcare company. Express.co.uk has been speaking to Doctor Charles Armitage about the main symptoms of chest infections to look out for as winter closes in. The sooner these symptoms can be identified, the sooner patients can receive treatment.
On the incoming winter, one which has already besieged the UK with high rainfall, Doctor Armitage said: “Heading into winter, people need to keep an eye out for a range of warning signs for chest infections.”
According to Doctor Armitage the main symptoms of a chest infection to look out for are a “persistent cough, breathlessness or rapid and shallow breathing, wheezing, a high temperature, a rapid heartbeat, chest pain or tightness”.
He added that people should “wrap up warm, eat lots of fruit and vegetables, even if it’s frozen, and limiting your alcohol consumption are great ways to reduce the risk of a chest infection”.
The reason for this is because chest infections are predicted to rise dramatically this winter, a phenomenon driven by a news story that has been dominating headlines for months.
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Doctor Armitage said: “Recent data from Florence suggests that cases of chest infections are set to rise by two fifths (42 percent) over the winter months.
“The cost of living crisis will be a significant contributing factor to the rise in chest infections over the coming months.
“Poorer diets and worsening living conditions, all as a result of the cost of living crisis, will likely see a rise in chest infections and exacerbate longer term conditions.”
The less good quality food people can afford, the less likely they will be able to get the nutrients they need to remain healthy; this comes after some shocking research conducted by Doctor Armitage’s company Florence.
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A study conducted of 1000 nurses found that over half feared their patients would no longer be able to afford their prescriptions due to the cost of living crisis.
Meanwhile, around 90 percent said that they thought the cost of living crisis would negatively impact overall mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress.
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The result of this will be that more patients will be referred to mental health services, putting more pressure on the NHS.
Alongside mental health, physical health of patients is a worry to healthcare professionals in this winter.
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According to Florence, over half of those surveyed said they expected to see an overall deterioration in the physical health of their patients with cases of diabetes as well as chest infections expected to rise.
As to which patients will be hit the hardest, it is no surprise that the poorest will be hit the hardest while 64 percent of healthcare professionals surveyed predicted that it will hit those with pre-existing conditions as they require repeat prescriptions.
Meanwhile, just under half said that the cost of living crisis will negatively affect the health of children suffering from lack of nutrients.
On this, Doctor Armitage said: “We’re heading into a tough winter and it’s vital we take greater care of our workforce so they can do their best work for their patients. The cost of living crisis is a pandemic level crisis and not only will our workforce personally suffer, but the healthcare service overall will face intolerable pressure, at a time when it’s already on the brink of collapse.”
Doctor Armitage added: ““Staff shortages are the single biggest threat to global healthcare. High vacancy rates are fuelling long wait times, burnout, and ultimately driving the existing workforce out – all in search of less pressure and better pay.
“Whilst Florence is working to alleviate some of this pressure by allowing flexibility within the industry and reducing some short-term impacts of staff shortages, this is unsustainable. We need an urgent, long-term solution.
“We need to see increased pay, greater efforts to bring more people into healthcare and enhanced training as a start. We need to look after our frontline healthcare workers.”
This research comes at a time when the hardest hit in society are just about to receive some financial support from the Government as it looks to try to lessen the strain on the UK’s poorest.
Source: Daily Express
