NHS North West stress-tests winter plans as services gear up for seasonal pressures

NHS leaders across the North West have put winter plans through a major stress-test as health services prepare for the busiest months of the year.

Winter is traditionally the busiest time of the year for the NHS, with cold weather typically bringing a rise in respiratory illness, pressures on emergency departments and ambulance services, and added strain across health and social care. 

Every year, staff from across the region rise to meet that challenge, and this year the NHS across the North West is determined to be more prepared than ever. 

From general practice, pharmacy and school health teams vaccinating people against flu and other winter illnesses to community and hospital services treating people in urgent treatment centres or emergency departments right at the frontline.  The NHS is working together, with colleagues from across social care and beyond to ensure preparations have been made to deal with expected pressures. 

Senior leaders from NHS trusts and the region’s three Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have already come together for a full day of stress-testing seasonal pressure plans. This involved participants scrutinising the plans against realistic scenarios that mirror the pressures the NHS could face in the coming months.

Dr Michael Gregory, Regional Medical Director at NHS England in the North West said:

“When experts from across health and care come together, it shows the NHS in the North West at its best: honest about the challenges we face and determined to work together to meet them.

“Testing our plans against realistic scenarios, before winter arrives proper, means we go into the coldest months better prepared, better joined up, and better placed to protect patients and support our staff.”

As part of this work, across the region, the NHS is coming up with innovative ways to better support people to get the care they need, as soon as they need it and in a way that eases pressure on services. 

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) are implementing a comprehensive programme of measures across both Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI) and Furness General Hospital (FGH).  Opening hours are being extended for same-day emergency care services, enabling patients to receive specialist assessment and treatment without necessarily requiring admission to hospital.  Additional nursing teams are being introduced at both sites to further support patient care, improve flow through emergency departments and reduce the need for temporary measures during periods of exceptional pressure.

In Greater Manchester at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, the team working as part of the Integrated Transfer of Care Hub support the safe, timely and person-centred discharge of adults from hospital.  The team coordinate discharge planning, facilitates access to community-based support and assessment pathways, and promotes independence by ensuring ongoing care and support needs are assessed in an individual's usual place of residence wherever possible, to support effective discharge and reduce unnecessary delays.

Across Cheshire and Merseyside, Unscheduled Care Coordination Hubs are being introduced to help healthcare professionals support people with urgent or complex needs to access timely, appropriate care. Acting as a clinically led single point of access, the hubs provide remote clinical assessment, expert advice and guidance, and rapid referral into urgent and community-based services.

By enabling faster information sharing and decision-making, the hubs help avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, support timely discharge from hospital and ensure patients can access care closer to home wherever possible. This not only improves the experience for patients and their families but also helps reduce pressure on emergency departments and ambulance services during periods of high demand.

Dr Fiona Lemmens, Executive Clinical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said:

"The Unscheduled Care Coordination Hubs demonstrate the value of organisations working together to provide more joined-up care for patients. By providing healthcare professionals with rapid access to clinical advice, assessment and referral support, the hubs help ensure people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. As we head into winter, they will play a vital role in helping us manage increased demand, reduce pressure on urgent and emergency services, and continue delivering safe, high-quality care for our local communities.”

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) have partnered with Age UK across the region to help prevent falls in the community this winter, supporting older people to stay safe and independent. Together, the trust and Age UK are delivering falls-prevention sessions for people most at risk of falling and the people who support them.  Falls significantly impact the NHS, costing more than £2.3 billion each year. They are also one of the most common reasons people call 999, with around one in 10 calls to NWAS being made because someone has fallen. 

The first of three events took place in early October at County Hall in Preston, as part of the council’s reception for older people’s groups. More than 100 people attended the event, where they received advice on falls prevention and accessed support and resources to share with their communities. More of these events will run through November.

Falls prevention is a key part of NWAS’ wider work to reduce health inequalities. By working directly with communities and local Age UK organisations, NWAS aims to reach people who may be at greater risk of falls and provide practical advice to help them stay safe, well and independent.

Dr Gregory added:

“There are hundreds of initiatives and programmes of work happening across the NHS to support our communities to keep them well for longer and to help NHS services manage at the busiest time of the year.  I’d ask the public to offer their support and help to keep well by accessing important vaccinations if eligible and using NHS services appropriately during winter months and beyond.”