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| Hospital face pressures as winter hits - health leaders | Hospital face pressures as winter hits - health leaders |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Hospitals across the UK are facing mounting pressures as winter hits, health leaders are warning. | Hospitals across the UK are facing mounting pressures as winter hits, health leaders are warning. |
| Demands on the NHS tend to increase during the colder months because of illnesses like flu and Norovirus. | Demands on the NHS tend to increase during the colder months because of illnesses like flu and Norovirus. |
| But with winter just getting under way pressures are already reaching record levels. | But with winter just getting under way pressures are already reaching record levels. |
| Extra money is being invested in each nation, but the four-hour A&E waiting time target is still being missed everywhere. | Extra money is being invested in each nation, but the four-hour A&E waiting time target is still being missed everywhere. |
| The warning comes as the BBC launches its NHS Winter project, which tracks how the health service is performing down to individual hospital trust level. | The warning comes as the BBC launches its NHS Winter project, which tracks how the health service is performing down to individual hospital trust level. |
| British Medical Association leader Dr Mark Porter said: "Pressure on NHS services is at a critical point and cracks are beginning to appear. | British Medical Association leader Dr Mark Porter said: "Pressure on NHS services is at a critical point and cracks are beginning to appear. |
| "While the NHS is used to seeing a spike in demand during winter months, this year emergency departments have experienced a spring, summer and autumn crisis as well, leaving no spare capacity in hospitals as we approach winter. | "While the NHS is used to seeing a spike in demand during winter months, this year emergency departments have experienced a spring, summer and autumn crisis as well, leaving no spare capacity in hospitals as we approach winter. |
| "At the same time, GP surgeries are struggling to cope with unprecedented levels of demand." | "At the same time, GP surgeries are struggling to cope with unprecedented levels of demand." |
| Rob Webster, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents health bosses, said he agreed, adding the pressures were "huge" across the whole system. | Rob Webster, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents health bosses, said he agreed, adding the pressures were "huge" across the whole system. |
| "While the winter brings its own challenges, our members regularly tell us that it is 'winter all year round' with pressures being experienced regardless of the time of year." | "While the winter brings its own challenges, our members regularly tell us that it is 'winter all year round' with pressures being experienced regardless of the time of year." |
| But Sarah Pinto-Duschinsky, director of operations and delivery for NHS England, said: "The NHS is pulling out all the stops, with local hospitals, ambulances, GPs, home health services and local councils all working hard to open extra beds and seven-day services using the extra winter funding." | But Sarah Pinto-Duschinsky, director of operations and delivery for NHS England, said: "The NHS is pulling out all the stops, with local hospitals, ambulances, GPs, home health services and local councils all working hard to open extra beds and seven-day services using the extra winter funding." |
| How the UK is preparing for winter | How the UK is preparing for winter |
| As health is devolved, data is published differently in the four UK nations. | As health is devolved, data is published differently in the four UK nations. |
| In England, Wales and Northern Ireland hospitals are expected to see 95% of A&E patients in four hours. | In England, Wales and Northern Ireland hospitals are expected to see 95% of A&E patients in four hours. |
| In Wales, the data is published monthly with the figures from October showing just 84.7% of patients were seen in time - with one in 20 waiting more than eight hours. | In Wales, the data is published monthly with the figures from October showing just 84.7% of patients were seen in time - with one in 20 waiting more than eight hours. |
| Northern Ireland is performing even worse - just under 80% of patients were seen within four hours in October. | Northern Ireland is performing even worse - just under 80% of patients were seen within four hours in October. |
| In England, weekly figures are published. | In England, weekly figures are published. |
| These show the waiting time target has been missed every week since the end of August, with performance mostly hovering between 93% and 94%. The data covers the period until the end of November. Figures for the first week of December will be released later on Friday. | These show the waiting time target has been missed every week since the end of August, with performance mostly hovering between 93% and 94%. The data covers the period until the end of November. Figures for the first week of December will be released later on Friday. |
| Scotland has a slightly tougher waiting time target - 98% of patients should be seen in four hours. In September under 94% were. | Scotland has a slightly tougher waiting time target - 98% of patients should be seen in four hours. In September under 94% were. |
| A major part of the problem is the increase in the number of attendances and emergency admissions - the most complex cases that cannot be treated within the A&E unit - which has been seen in recent years. | A major part of the problem is the increase in the number of attendances and emergency admissions - the most complex cases that cannot be treated within the A&E unit - which has been seen in recent years. |
| In England, the weekly total topped 110,000 at the end of November - the highest it has ever been - while delays in discharging patients from hospital are at their highest levels since monitoring began in 2010. | In England, the weekly total topped 110,000 at the end of November - the highest it has ever been - while delays in discharging patients from hospital are at their highest levels since monitoring began in 2010. |
| Have you been affected by the increasing demand on the NHS as the cold weather hits? You can email us by haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist, please include a contact number. | |
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