As the NHS faces record-breaking pressures this winter, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has called on NHS leaders to place patient safety at the forefront of their priorities.
In a specially-convened meeting with NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard and other trust leaders, the Health Secretary emphasised the critical need to address urgent and emergency care challenges.
The latest data reveals that the NHS is experiencing unparalleled strain, with hospital admissions at an all-time high and flu cases quadrupling compared to the same period last year. This surge in demand has prompted urgent discussions on how to manage the increasing pressures on the health system.
The government’s Plan for Change, outlined by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, aims to reduce waiting lists and alleviate pressures on the health system. By addressing waiting lists of over 7.5 million, the government hopes to deliver long-term reform and ensure timely care for all patients.
NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard commented:
“The NHS is already seeing unprecedented demand going into winter, with flu cases quadrupling, thousands more ambulance callouts and rising pressures causing unacceptable waits for patients.
“While staff have worked hard to prepare - including expanding virtual wards so more patients can receive hospital-style care at home and delivering over 27 million vaccinations since September - we know services are set to come under even more strain.
“Patient safety must be paramount, and speaking to local leaders today, the message was clear: we need every part of the NHS, and social care partners, working together to manage demand and ensure patients with the most urgent needs are prioritised.
“As always, the public have an important part to play in helping NHS staff over winter, by calling 999 and using A&E in an emergency only, while using NHS 111 to access the right support for urgent health needs.”
With the Health Secretary calling for patient safety to be a priority throughout the winter months, Matthew Taylor – Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation – released the following statement:
“It is very welcome that the Secretary of State has made it clear what his priorities are this winter. We have been highlighting the need to prioritise urgent and emergency care to manage winter pressures, so it is good the message has been heard and accepted. But the government must be clear with the public about what the consequences of this decision are – performance targets will be missed and some patients will be left waiting longer for care.
“This winter is already expected to be incredibly tough. A&E, ambulance and GP demand are at record levels, flu and ambulance handover delays are worse than last year, and staff sickness is already high. Prioritising patient safety across the urgent and emergency care pathway is likely to result in elective operations being delayed or cancelled, so waiting lists could rise as a result.
“NHS leaders and their teams work incredibly hard day-in and day-out to keep patients safe – it is a critical priority for the service and providing care is often the paramount reason people have for working for the NHS.”
Image credit: iStock
