The NHS will be challenged by a “winter like no other” as doctors battle the combined “onslaught” of Covid-19, seasonal flu and other pressures, emergency medics have warned.
Action is needed now to make sure health services can cope following several winters where the system has been under massive strain, according to The Society for Acute Medicine (SAM).
Dr Susan Crossland, president of SAM, said: “There is a cautious welcome that the initial wave of Covid-19 has been controlled and things feel a little more like normal.
“But the threat of winter flu, norovirus and coronavirus means that we need to be better prepared than ever – and that is something we haven’t been for a number of years now.”
Dr Nick Scriven, immediate past president, warned immediate action was needed to “protect staff so they can continue to care for patients” ahead of what he anticipates will be an “onslaught”.
He said exhausted staff, seasonal illnesses and a possible second wave of coronavirus could have “severe consequences.”
He said the NHS could also face an influx of patients who have “put off coming to hospitals as long as they possibly could during the first wave”.
He added: “These stresses will be further exacerbated by the ongoing need to keep people with coronavirus separate from others to prevent transmission, with segregated wards effectively reducing immediately available beds.”
Dr Scriven said part of the planning strategy should look at permanently reducing the footfall in hospitals.
“In addition to the reduction in activity through telephone and online outpatient clinics, I would strongly urge permanent reduction in unnecessary footfall in hospitals from large groups of visitors, on-site meetings, conferences and public events,” he said.
“We know influenza and norovirus spread at will through hospitals following community transmission, so looking at how we can take some of the current changes forward permanently would be a positive step towards reducing infection and, in turn, pressures on hospitals and staff.”
Dr Scriven said Government and NHS leaders needed to recognise the ongoing “neglect” of staffing levels.
“As we move through the Covid-19 pandemic we need to consider what comes next and we must work out – and see evidence – of how we will give our front door teams much-needed time to recover both tired minds and bodies,” he said
“We need government and hospitals trusts to act now and recognise that – through immense efforts – the NHS has managed to look after many thousands of people, but this has only been made possible through mass changes and cancellations affecting planned care.
“The problems likely to be associated with that could be exacerbated by a winter like no other which, coming after years we have seen each winter be labelled the worst ever, could have severe consequences.”
