Hospital face pressures as winter hits - health leaders

Demands on the NHS tend to increase during the colder months because of illnesses like flu and Norovirus.

But with winter just getting under way pressures are already reaching record levels.

Extra money is being invested in each nation, but the four-hour A&E waiting time target is still being missed everywhere.

The warning comes as the BBC launches its NHS Winter project, which tracks how the health service is performing down to individual hospital trust level.

British Medical Association leader Dr Mark Porter said: "Pressure on NHS services is at a critical point and cracks are beginning to appear.

"While the NHS is used to seeing a spike in demand during winter months, this year emergency departments have experienced a spring, summer and autumn crisis as well, leaving no spare capacity in hospitals as we approach winter.

"At the same time, GP surgeries are struggling to cope with unprecedented levels of demand."

Rob Webster, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents health bosses, said he agreed, adding the pressures were "huge" across the whole system.

"While the winter brings its own challenges, our members regularly tell us that it is 'winter all year round' with pressures being experienced regardless of the time of year."

But Sarah Pinto-Duschinsky, director of operations and delivery for NHS England, said: "The NHS is pulling out all the stops, with local hospitals, ambulances, GPs, home health services and local councils all working hard to open extra beds and seven-day services using the extra winter funding."

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-30433575