In a sobering letter to NHS staff, the UK’s four chief medical officers, the medical director of NHS England and the head of the General Medical Council say that this year's winter pressures will be 'significant and potentially prolonged'
At the weekend, NHS medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, warned of a “tripledemic” threat to the NHS this winter, of pressure on emergency care, flu and Covid-19. A £500m fund announced by the Government in September to be spent by individual NHS trusts to free up hospital beds has still not been released, exacerbating the situation.
The letter to NHS staff has been signed by Professor Powis, as well as Sir Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, his three counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the chief executive of the General Medical Council.on Monday: “This winter will be tough across the NHS with backlogs and COVID-19 on top of seasonal pressures. The UK CMOs, NHSE & GMC have written to clinicians to thank them for their remarkable work for patients.
The letter says: “The past few years have been some of the most challenging that health and social care and our professions have faced in modern times. It’s clear that there will be further challenges ahead over the coming weeks and months as we look towards winter. “As we all know, there is already sustained additional demand across all sectors and settings of health and care provision. This pressure is likely to be exacerbated by staff shortages due to sickness or caring responsibilities. The impact on staff both personally and professionally will be significant and potentially prolonged throughout the coming months.
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