This year's NHS winter crisis has already begun as hospital beds are filling up and thousands of people face long waits in A&E departments across England.
Figures released today by the NHS show things look worse than last year, which then-Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt called the 'worst ever winter'.
Experts and senior politicians warn things will deteriorate over the Christmas period as the NHS faces up to its toughest winter yet ahead of a flu season and icy weather warnings.
In a series of damning reports, official figures revealed:
- One in 10 hospitals didn't have a single bed free on at least one night last week
- The average bed capacity across hospitals is England is 94 per cent - way above the 85 per cent safe level
- Nearly 55,000 people were left waiting on trolleys in A&E for more than four hours in November. Of those patients, 258 were kept waiting for at least 12 hours
- One in 12 ambulances were kept waiting outside A&E for half an hour or more because there was no space inside for their patients
- Ambulances were turned away from overloaded hospitals 25 times last week and sent to nearby units
The number of A&E patients left waiting around for more than four hours after being told they would be moved to a hospital bed was 54,631 last month – the highest it has been since comparable data began in 2010
One in 10 hospital trusts in England had at least one night last week when they had no beds available for new patients. Two – Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen, and London North West – were 100 per cent full all week, according to NHS data
NHS England and NHS Digital released the first of their winter situation reports today, prompting fears of another devastating season from health experts.
Figures covering the first week of December showed 14 out of 134 major hospital trusts spent at least one night with 100 per cent of their beds occupied.
Hospitals should have 15 per cent of their beds free at any time for the NHS to operate safely, but nationally this figure is 5.9 per cent.
And cracks are beginning to show in A&E departments, which bear the brunt of huge numbers of patients flooding in in the colder months.
A total of 54,631 people were left waiting for more than four hours for a bed in November after doctors decided to keep them in hospital - 12 per cent higher than last year.
A&E figures for November also showed 258 people waited more than 12 hours to be treated, more than double the number for November 2017.
The NHS target is to see 95 per cent of all A&E patients within four hours, but this figure was only 87.6 per cent in November – the lowest level since March.
Chief of the Royal College of Nursing, Professor Dame Donna Kinnair warned: 'The cold weather is only just beginning to bite, yet it seems NHS performance dipped to a worrying level for mild temperatures last week.
'These figures often mask large numbers of patients on trolleys and chairs waiting for a bed to become available.
'The NHS desperately needs more beds, but can’t open them without more nurses to staff them – and with 42,000 nursing vacancies in England, this problem is only going to get worse, not better.
'As the weather turns colder and winter begins in earnest, these figures leave questions to be answered about how hospital services will cope.'
Of 97,472 people taken to hospital by ambulance, around one in 12 of them - 7,716 – had to wait half an hour or more to be taken inside.
Some 5,777 patients taken – one in every 17 – were kept waiting in the ambulance bay for between 30 minutes and half an hour. And 1,939 – one in 50 – waited outside for more than an hour.
Last week, 25 ambulances were turned away from A&E departments too busy to deal with the patients.
Nearly half of those (11) were turned away by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which inspectors have rated 'inadequate' and which also had the longest delays for the ambulances it did accept.
Jonathan Ashworth, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, described the NHS figures as 'hugely concerning' and said they 'don't bode well for the difficult months ahead'.
He said: 'While Government remains paralysed by Brexit infighting, the NHS is struggling as a result of years of underfunding, cuts and staffing shortages.
'Rather than their self-interest, Tory ministers must start prioritising patients' interests by outlining proposals for the NHS this winter.
'It would be totally unforgivable if patients suffered another winter crisis like the ones we've seen in recent years.'
'The first set of winter statistics show the NHS already under tremendous strain and patients waiting longer and longer for care,' said Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst at health think-tank The King's Fund.
'Despite a mild start to winter and low flu levels, targets are still being badly missed… these figures show little slack in a system which is operating consistently in the red zone.'
The Health Foundation think-tank argued the figures show the NHS is 'holding steady' – despite missing its targets 'across the board'.
Dr Becks Fisher, GP and policy fellow at the charity, said: 'This reflects Herculean efforts on the part of NHS staff, who continue to work under significant pressure all year round.'
WHY DID MR HUNT SAY LAST YEAR WAS THE WORST EVER WINTER?
The former Health Secretary apologised to patients in February
The NHS has endured its worst ever winter, Jeremy Hunt admitted back in February.
The former Health and Social Care Secretary apologised to patients and said frontline services had been put under enormous strain by the worst flu outbreak in seven years.
He said the outbreak has been ‘very, very tough’ on frontline staff but stopped short of apologising to them.
‘When they signed up to go into medicine, they knew there would be pressurised moments,’ he said.
‘I take responsibility for everything that happens in the NHS,’ he told ITV News. ‘I apologise to patients when we haven’t delivered the care that we should.’
But she added: 'With adverse weather, flu and vomiting viruses yet to fully hit, the NHS faces its toughest winter yet.'
Some hospitals are struggling more than others to cope – London North West University and Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals didn't have a bed free at all last week.
Croydon Health Services was full on six days, and four other trusts spent two days with no available beds.
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Whittington Health, Northampton General Hospital and The Princess Alexandra Hospital only had five days with space for new patients.
While the remaining of the 14 trusts, King's College Hospital, The Hillingdon Hospitals, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals, East Cheshire, Wirral University Teaching Hospital, Isle of Wight and Weston Area Health, had no free beds on just one day.
Hospitals aren't alone in worrying about the effects of winter, and GP surgeries are also expecting to come under huge pressures.
The Royal College of GPs warned too much strain on doctors deprives patients of safe care.
The organisation's chair, Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard said: 'It’s no secret that our NHS is now permanently operating under intense resource pressures.
'However, this is inevitably exacerbated as the colder months draw in, with more patients acquiring infectious seasonal diseases like the common cold and flu virus.
'GPs, and not just hospitals, are also operating under enormous strain on the frontline of patient care.
'Our profession – and our patients – are now facing the adverse impacts of these pressures on a daily basis.
'We will always do our absolute best for our patients, but demand is rising at the same time as we have a severe shortage of GPs.
'There is a limit beyond which we can no longer guarantee safe care.'
Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, said: 'This is deeply troubling.
He added: 'The cold, hard reality is that the NHS cannot keep pace with demand. These figures suggest we could be heading for one of the bleakest winters yet.'
The figures come as meteorologists have predicted the first heavy snowfall of winter will hit Britain this weekend - with up to eight inches set to cover some areas.
While freezing winds from Russia will also lash the country. The strong winds could reach gale force, with gusts of 55mph to 60mph expected.
Britain is also braced for a flu outbreak this month, which is when the season usually begins and starts to pick up speed.
Health bosses have aimed to vaccinate all workers this flu season and those who refuse face being taken off frontline duties.
But figures uncovered earlier this week showed only a third of NHS staff have had their flu jabs in some hospitals, posing a risk to patients.
WHEN IS THE COLD WEATHER EXPECTED TO HIT BRITAIN?
The first heavy snowfall of winter will hit Britain this weekend - with up to eight inches set to cover some areas.
Snow could fall as far south as the Midlands on Saturday and Sunday – and other areas face a soaking with up to an inch of rain forecast further south and west in England and Wales, bringing the risk of localised flooding.
Walkers at Footscray Meadows in Sidcup, South East London, brave the cold weather on the frosty grass this morning
Experts are predicting 'significant' snowfall this weekend, while freezing winds from Russia will also lash the country. The strong winds could reach gale force, with gusts of 55mph to 60mph expected.
Forecasters predict up to two inches of snow over the Cheviots, Lake District, Pennines, Welsh Mountains and North York Moors on Saturday, with a dusting at lower levels. In the Highlands, up to eight inches could fall.
It follows a mostly dry few days, apart from South West England, where rain is forecast today, as a ridge of high pressure has brought settled although often cloudy and cold conditions.
The Met Office has issued a snow and ice warning from 3pm Saturday until 10am Sunday. But the snow is only set to be temporary as milder air moves in behind the front, sending temperatures rising from 6C (43F) to 13C (55F).
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https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/nhs-crisis-is-already-worse-than-last-years-worst-ever-winter/
News Pictures NHS crisis is ALREADY worse than last year's 'worst ever winter'
You don’t have to pack away your bikini just because you’re the wrong side of 20. These body-beautiful stars reveal their secrets to staying in shape and prove you can smoulder in a two-piece, whatever your age. Read on and be bikini inspired!
TEENS
Hayden Panettiere
Size: 8
Age: 18
Height: 5ft 1in
Weight: 8st
To achieve her kick-ass figure, Hayden – who plays cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes – follows the ‘quartering’ rule. She eats only a quarter of the food on her plate, then waits 20 minutes before deciding whether she needs to eat again.
Hayden says: “I don’t have a model’s body, but I’m not one of those crazy girls who thinks that they’re fat. I’m OK with what I have.”
Nicollette says: “I don’t like diets – I see it, I eat it! I believe in eating healthily with lots of protein, vegetables and carbs to give you energy.”
kim cattrall
Size: 10-12
Age: 52
Height: 5ft 8in
Weight: 9st 4lb
SATC star Kim swears by gym sessions with Russian kettle bells (traditional cast-iron weights) and the South Beach Diet to give her the body she wants. To avoid overeating, Kim has a radical diet trick – squirting lemon juice on her leftovers – so she won’t carry on picking.
Kim says: “I am no super-thin Hollywood actress. I am built for men who like women to look like women.”
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/13/16/7388804-6491697-image-a-2_1544719313087.jpg
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