The Health Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has pledged 140 million pounds to increase urgent care capacity in England, acknowledging that the NHS is entering an unusually difficult winter after a summer of extreme heat. The funding will support 14 schemes including the creation of new urgent treatment centres, expansion of ambulance fleets and upgrades to emergency departments.
"Winter will be more challenging for our NHS this year, after such a heavy summer," Cooper said. "That's why we have been preparing early and investing in extra urgent care capacity to help get patients the care they need."
Almost 7.3 million people attended A&E between June and August, the highest figure ever recorded for a summer period. In September, experts warned of a "twin crisis" from the combined impact of record summer temperatures and seasonal winter illnesses such as flu and norovirus.
Earlier this month, Professor Frankie Swords, the NHS national medical director, said hospital admissions for flu were the highest she could remember for this time of year, coinciding with an expected increase in Covid admissions.
Emma Rowland, NHS England executive director for performance and delivery, said: "We know this winter will be tough for the NHS and we're doing everything we can to reduce pressure on our emergency departments and make sure patients get the care they need, while protecting our staff." She urged eligible people to get vaccinated against flu and other winter viruses.
Patricia Marquis, executive director of the Royal College of Nursing England, welcomed the extra money in the short term but described it as "just another sticking plaster on a system that is at breaking point". She said the nursing workforce was "already running on empty and short of staff" heading into winter, and called on the government to use the upcoming budget to invest in growing the nursing workforce long term.