The NHS will face a tough winter despite planning for the cold season since April, an ambulance head has warned.

The NHS has traditionally struggled over the festive season as the cold weather puts pressure on stretched services around the country.

A top ambulance worker has warned that hospitals around Bromley have been working at full capacity non-stop since last Christmas due to the heatwave that hit the country during the summer.

Extreme weather at both ends of the spectrum can cause pressure for the NHS which has to deal with frail and elderly patients who struggle with the climate.

“The big thing on the horizon is winter”, London Ambulance Service engagement officer Philip Powell told a Bromley Council safer partnership meeting on Thursday (November 29).

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“Hospitals didn’t really seen much of a let up since last winter. They have been running hot all summer which hasn’t really helped.

“It seems like we went form the Beast from the East to the heatwave almost overnight. Hospitals were discharging patients suffering from the cold weather as we were delivering ones from the heatwave.

“There is only a certain amount of capacity. We are trying to encourage people to do what they can at home and to avoid them becoming patients.”

 

Elderly and frail residents, who are most likely to be affected by extreme weather snaps, make up a high percentage of Bromley’s population.

Patients will be encouraged to use the 111 helpline for urgent medical needs rather than use 999 emergency services to avoid unnecessary pressure on hospitals.

“When the cold weather does come in it’s going to come with a bang, which won’t be helpful for any of the health system," Mr Powell said, “It’s going to be a bumpy ride. Everyone can do the best they can, a massive amount of preparation has gone on. We have been preparing since around April.”

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It has already been announced that an extra £1 million is to be pumped into care services in Bromley to ease pressures brought on by winter.

The money will be spent by the council ensuring there is additional capacity for patients to be seen in the right settings.

It comes as members were given an update on how the ambulance service was dealing with callouts.

The way the service is measured nationally was changed last year, and Bromley has seen a good performance since.

“We were stopping the clock within the target with a response car when actually the patient needed an ambulance”, Mr Powell said, “Whilst a car was getting there and starting treatment, it might be that the patient actually needed to be taken to hospital.

“We only stop the clock when we get an ambulance there now. It’s is about getting the right response to the patient as quickly as is appropriate.”