Over the winter months, the NHS faces mounting pressure. Budget cuts, staff shortages and more patients than ever before contribute to an immense demand for healthcare. Even with an additional £200 million proposed by the government to boost NHS patient care, the peak winter period will still affect struggling local services and hospital trusts.
Whether you’re waiting for surgery or supporting a loved one with a serious health implication, it’s worth knowing about the pressures of winter.
Four reasons why the NHS facing increased demand during winter
- The rise of seasonal illnesses
In winter, more people suffer from respiratory illnesses.
Some studies suggest that colder temperatures make it more difficult for the immune system to fight off infections, while others focus on the fact that we spend more time indoors when it’s colder, where bacteria and viruses are more easily spread.
Due to hazardous conditions underfoot caused by rainy and icy weather, members of the public face a heightened risk of slips, trips and falls. For elderly or vulnerable people, something as seemingly simple as a fall in the street could cause serious injuries and increase the risk of developing infections like pneumonia, which is often picked up in hospital.
- Continued impact of the pandemic
The NHS is paying the price for the monumental national efforts involved in tackling the prevalence of Covid-19 at the height of the pandemic. There are now six million people on the waiting list, an increase of 1.6 million since the pandemic started.
Backlogged appointments and elective NHS care, treatments or procedures planned in advance, is a major issue. In circumstances where delayed treatment leads to exacerbated symptoms and suffering, patients may choose to consult advice from no-win-no-fee medical negligence solicitors and seek compensation.
There’s also a very strong chance that new strains of the virus could lead to surging Covid hospital admissions once again. Vaccination campaigns help to mitigate seasonal illnesses and viruses like Covid, which is more transmissible than the common cold.
- Strain on NHS resources
Surging hospital admissions puts limited hospital resources under strain, including staff numbers. Where sufficient ward space, hospital beds or supporting staff cannot be guaranteed, it might not be safe or even possible to carry out treatment.
Oversubscribed Accident & Emergency departments have to operate with reduced staff, leading to longer waiting times for those who need urgent care.
Emergency services face significant challenges under high demand. Alarmingly, ambulance waiting times are still increasing, with recent data showing that 15% of ambulance handovers were delayed by over an hour in the week leading up to 10th December, 2023.
- Delayed access to alternative services
Where possible, general practitioners and independent care professionals should encourage individuals to seek timely and appropriate medical attention if they’re unwell.
Alternative healthcare services are expected to become an integral part of the patient journey as we head into 2024. Telemedicine, for example, will play a vital role in managing non-urgent health concerns and ensuring that patients can access treatment and advice from qualified professionals. Remote appointments also make it easier to manage infectious diseases at earlier stages, reducing the risk of transmission in hospitals.
Overview
Stretched services and knock-on effects of the pandemic continue to put the NHS under strain. The service will only be able to operate at its full potential, without unnecessary patient delays, once it sees sufficient funding, recovery from the pandemic, and an increased workforce.
