NHS faces more challenging winter than normal, health secretary warns
Yvette Cooper has announced £140m investment in England's urgent care system, after summer heatwaves piled pressure on the NHS.
The National Health Service (NHS) is bracing for a more challenging winter than usual, with Health Secretary Yvette Cooper warning of the impact of a particularly busy summer. To address potential seasonal illnesses such as flu and norovirus, £140 million in funding has been announced for urgent care capacity. This money will be allocated to 14 schemes across England, including new urgent care centers, ambulance fleets, and emergency department upgrades.
Shadow Health Secretary Damian Hinds acknowledged the need for action but questioned the source of the funding. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) England called the funding a temporary solution, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to staffing and resources. Cooper stated that winter will be more challenging for the NHS this year due to the heavy summer, emphasizing the early investment in additional urgent care capacity.
Health thinktank the King's Fund warned of a "twin crisis" facing the service, with little time for staff and the system to recover between peak periods. NHS leaders are urging eligible individuals to get flu vaccinations, with medical director Prof Frankie Swords expressing concern over the early signs of winter pressure already affecting hospitals.
NHS Executive Director Emma Rowland acknowledged the tough road ahead but praised the investment in urgent care, stating it would help more patients receive the right care at the right time. However, RCN England's executive director Patricia Marquis expressed disappointment, stating that the additional money is only a short-term fix for a system already on the brink.
The nursing workforce is already stretched and short-staffed, Marquis added. The waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England has increased for the second month in a row, with 7.37 million treatments waiting at the end of August, raising questions about whether the NHS will meet its target to treat 92% of patients within 18 weeks by 2029.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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