A report by NHS Providers has warned that the NHS is facing its worst winter in recent history if it does not receive an immediate increase in funding.

NHS Providers is a trade association that represents hospital, mental health, community and ambulance service trusts in England.  The report recommended an emergency investment of between £200 and £350 million to enable the NHS to manage the risk to patient safety in the coming winter months.

The report found that although the level of planning and support for this winter is considerably more developed than last year and emergency care performance has been given greater priority,  failure to make the investment will lead to longer waiting times for patients in A&E and other services, and will also put the safety of patients at risk as local trusts have “insufficient capacity” to meet extra expected demand.

It said NHS trusts are not consistently benefiting from the extra £1 billion of social care investment announced in the spring Budget. Due to this, delayed transfers of care for patients that are medically fit to leave hospital but are unable to do so because of a lack of available support in the community remain “stubbornly high”.

The report said that although improvements are being made, they are outweighed by a combination of increasing risks, including the “inexorable rise” in demand for emergency care, growing staff shortages, and primary and social care capacity, as a whole.

Moosa-Duke Solicitors are specialists in all aspects of clinical negligence matters and have a specialist experience of dealing with claims involving negligence in emergency departments.

If you have concerns regarding the care or treatment that you have received, please contact us on 0116 254 7456 for a no obligation conversation.