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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Andrew Gregory Health editor

NHS anaesthetist shortage prevents 1.5m operations a year, report finds

NHS Surgery The Department of Health and Social Care
An anaesthetist monitoring a patient
There are 2,256 fewer anaesthetists than needed in the UK, the report seen by the Guardian finds. Photograph: Jim Craigmyle/Getty Images

The NHS is unable to perform 1.5m operations a year because of a drastic shortage of anaesthetists, a report reveals.

More than 8 million patients are on waiting lists across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Many are in urgent need of a surgical procedure.

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