Key facts
- The NHS faces a more challenging winter due to the impact of summer heatwaves.
- £140 million has been allocated to boost urgent care capacity in England.
- Nearly 7.3 million people attended A&E between June and August, a record for the summer period.
- The funding will support 14 schemes, including new urgent care centers and upgraded emergency departments.
- Experts previously warned of a 'twin crisis' combining extreme heat impacts with seasonal winter illnesses.
The UK's National Health Service is bracing for a more difficult winter following a summer marked by record-breaking heatwaves, according to Health Secretary Yvette Cooper. She announced a £140 million investment to bolster urgent care services across England, aiming to increase capacity and manage the anticipated surge in seasonal illnesses.
The additional funding will support 14 specific schemes, including the establishment of new urgent care centers, enhancements to ambulance fleets, and upgrades for existing emergency departments. This proactive investment comes after a summer where the NHS experienced unprecedented strain, with nearly 7.3 million attendances at A&E departments between June and August, the highest number ever recorded for that period.
Experts had previously cautioned about a potential 'twin crisis' for the NHS, combining the lingering effects of extreme summer temperatures with the onset of winter illnesses like influenza and norovirus. The national medical director for the NHS has already observed concerning signs of an early flu season, with hospital admissions for the virus at levels not seen before for this time of year, coinciding with expected increases in COVID-19 admissions.