Even a starved NHS is still our best defence against the coronavirus | Polly Toynbee

With doctors, nurses and beds in short supply, the health service will rely on its heroes more than ever, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

The patient is a 71-year-old, thin and frail after 10 years of chronic neglect, who is about to suffer a severe attack of the coronavirus. How will the weakened body of the NHS cope when the surge of cases sweeps down on it within weeks? Expect this to expose its worst fragilities – but also its remarkable strengths. Take its pulse and it’s short of 100,000 doctors and nurses, with 17,000 beds lost since 2010. Germany has eight beds per 1,000 people , UK only 2.5.

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