Winter pressures threaten further misery for NHS patients

Commenting on the publication today of the NHS monthly performance statistics, Tim Gardner, Assistant Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, said: 

‘Today’s data highlights the desperate situation facing patients waiting for NHS treatment. The health service is under severe strain. High inflation has meant NHS budgets have fallen in real terms this year, and the weeks ahead will see further strike action by junior doctors and the threat of increasing winter pressures. 

‘Heading into winter, the NHS is not in a substantially better position than this time last year, which was one of the worst ever. In November, over 42,000 patients spent over 12 hours in A&E departments waiting for a bed. The waiting list for routine operations has fallen slightly but was still 7.7 million in October, with over 377,000 waiting longer than a year. Nearly 13,000 hospital beds are occupied daily by patients who no longer need acute medical care but cannot be discharged due to shortages in social care and NHS community services. 

‘How well the health service copes over the coming months largely depends on the weather and seasonal viruses, including influenza. While winter pressures may be inevitable, the annual NHS crisis is not.

‘In last month’s Autumn statement, the government focused on improving public sector productivity. For this to happen in the NHS, further action is needed to build and support the workforce, boost infrastructure and technology, and reform the broken social care system.’

Media contact

Billie Morgan
Billie.morgan@health.org.uk
020 7257 8000