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NHS medical chief promises action to ease pressure on A&E departments NHS medical chief promises action to ease pressure on A&E departments
(about 3 hours later)
More hospital staff are to be switched to seven-day working patterns while some treatments will be transferred to the private sector to help relieve crisis-hit A&E departments this winter, according to the medical director of the NHS.More hospital staff are to be switched to seven-day working patterns while some treatments will be transferred to the private sector to help relieve crisis-hit A&E departments this winter, according to the medical director of the NHS.
Professor Sir Bruce Keogh said he shared concerns about the pressure facing emergency care departments and conceded they were facing an "inexorable climb" in admissions. Professor Sir Bruce Keogh said he shared concerns about the pressure facing emergency care departments, adding that they were facing an "inexorable climb" in admissions.
Emergency doctors warned that A&E departments are facing their worst winter yet as a result of staff shortages and "toxic overcrowding".Emergency doctors warned that A&E departments are facing their worst winter yet as a result of staff shortages and "toxic overcrowding".
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Keogh said there was "a feeling that this year is worse" in terms of the pressure on A&E departments.Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Keogh said there was "a feeling that this year is worse" in terms of the pressure on A&E departments.
He said the NHS had already taken action to deal with the expected problems this winter, including allocating funds earlier than usual. And he confirmed that some treatments would be outsourced to private care providers to help ease the burden.He said the NHS had already taken action to deal with the expected problems this winter, including allocating funds earlier than usual. And he confirmed that some treatments would be outsourced to private care providers to help ease the burden.
"We are looking to see how we can decongest hospitals by moving some services during winter into the private sector," he said. He added that waiting times at A&E departments would be published every Friday this winter to allow the public to assess the performance of their local hospitals. "We are looking to see how we can decongest hospitals by moving some services during winter into the private sector," said Keogh. He added that waiting times at A&E departments would be published every Friday this winter to allow the public to assess the performance of their local hospitals.
His comments come after NHS figures showed a 43% increase in the numbers waiting more than four hours in A&E departments compared with two years ago. His comments come after NHS figures showed a 43% increase in the numbers spending more than four hours in A&E compared with two years ago.
Next week Keogh is due to publish an eagerly-awaited report into the future of urgent care services.Next week Keogh is due to publish an eagerly-awaited report into the future of urgent care services.
He suggested it would focus on ways of treating more patients at home as he pointed out that 40% of patients left A&E without needing any treatment. "We need a better offer outside of hospitals," he said.He suggested it would focus on ways of treating more patients at home as he pointed out that 40% of patients left A&E without needing any treatment. "We need a better offer outside of hospitals," he said.
"We know that of the 5m admissions that come in through A&E, just over 1m of those are avoidable if we could offer better services in the community – going to their GPs or GPs going to them or ambulance services helping them at the scene.""We know that of the 5m admissions that come in through A&E, just over 1m of those are avoidable if we could offer better services in the community – going to their GPs or GPs going to them or ambulance services helping them at the scene."
Keogh said he would also publish a second report looking at how more out-of-hours care could relieve emergency departments.Keogh said he would also publish a second report looking at how more out-of-hours care could relieve emergency departments.
"Before the end of the year you will see some thoughts on how we can move more closely to a seven-day service in the NHS," he told the BBC."Before the end of the year you will see some thoughts on how we can move more closely to a seven-day service in the NHS," he told the BBC.
Keogh said difficulties in A&E departments highlighted broader problems in the NHS. "Although this is manifest in A&E this is a problem of the whole system," he said. Keogh said difficulties in A&E departments highlighted broader problems in the NHS. "Although this is manifest in A&E this is a problem of the whole system," he said.
"Winter is going to be a particular issue. We have to address the problems coming up this winter and we have to address the longer-term problem.""Winter is going to be a particular issue. We have to address the problems coming up this winter and we have to address the longer-term problem."
Bernadette Garrihy, from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, predicted that A&E was facing its worst winter yet.Bernadette Garrihy, from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, predicted that A&E was facing its worst winter yet.
In a separate interview on the Today programme she said A&E departments were already under huge pressure. In a separate interview on the Today programme she said emergency departments were already under huge pressure.
She said: "We have what we are describing this year as toxic overcrowding of our departments due to bed-blocking in our hospitals. We are very concerned about providing a safe and quality service this winter." "We have what we are describing this year as toxic overcrowding of our departments due to bed-blocking in our hospitals. We are very concerned about providing a safe and quality service this winter," she said.
Calling for seven-day working patterns for all health and social care staff, Garrihy said: "We need other parts of the health service to be working on a seven-day basis, the way we are. Providing out-of-hours cover too. The whole health service needs to be looking at seven-day working, and indeed social services as well, because a lot of our patients have interlinked health and social demands." Calling for seven-day working patterns for all health and social care staff, Garrihy said: "We need other parts of the health service to be working on a seven-day basis, the way we are. Providing out-of-hours cover too. The whole health service needs to be looking at seven-day working, and indeed social services as well, because a lot of our patients have interlinked health and social demands."
Garrihy said changes so far introduced represented a drop in the ocean, and said she hoped Keogh's review would lead to sweeping changes.Garrihy said changes so far introduced represented a drop in the ocean, and said she hoped Keogh's review would lead to sweeping changes.
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