COVID-19: Fears patient backlog in some hospitals may last for years

It will take five years for some hospitals to catch up with the backlog of patient care caused by the coronavirus pandemic, NHS Providers has warned.

The trusts in England worst impacted by the crisis are between three and five years away from returning to pre-COVID levels, according to the association, which represents NHS trusts.

It also claims that COVID-19 has resulted in the biggest backlog of care in England for 20 years - and says it is a "very significant problem" that hospital trusts are still assessing the extent of.

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