UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Health Secretary Wes Streeting warns of a “challenging winter” for the NHS, criticizing the use of cafes as wards and pledging urgent system improvements.
As reported by The Independent, Wes Streeting warned of a “difficult winter” for the NHS, criticising the decision to turn a hospital café into an emergency ward.
At William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, patients were treated in café beds as staff tried to manage rising demand.
What did Wes Streeting say about the NHS ahead of winter?
Speaking in the Commons, Wes Streeting said the NHS faces high pressure ahead of winter, but insisted the Government is “not complacent.”
The announcement follows a survey revealing that three in five doctors treated patients in temporary areas such as hospital corridors, offices, and cupboards this summer.
A Royal College of Physicians survey shows corridor care has “sadly become an everyday reality” for doctors, and is no longer limited to the winter season.
The recent RCP poll of 553 doctors found that 59% treated patients in temporary spaces between June and August.
Speaking in the Commons, Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Helen Morgan urged action to prevent patients from suffering on trolleys or in hospital corridors this winter.
Mr Streeting responded,
“The NHS is already running hot ahead of winter, we brought forward our winter planning for this year to get ahead, we are making sure all NHS Trusts and systems have developed plans which have been tested regionally.”
He said,
“The flu vaccination programme is well under way, the autumn Covid-19 vaccination began on the 1st of October, and we’re driving improvements in urgent and emergency care. The flu vaccination programme is well under way, the autumn Covid-19 vaccination began on the 1st of October, and we’re driving improvements in urgent and emergency care.”
The Health Secretary called it “completely appalling” that hospital coffee shops had been converted into patient care areas at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.
Mr Joseph stated,
“Will the Secretary of State come to visit the hospital to see the continuing issues with corridor care?”
He added,
“And will he update the House on what the Government is doing to ensure that William Harvey is able to manage winter pressure and maintain safe, quality care?”
Mr Streeting replied,
“We won’t accept this. I am happy to look at the case he mentioned, but moreover, we will be publishing figures on corridor care so that we can hold the system to account and the public can hold us to account to improve the situation that we inherited.”
He pledged in the Commons to take all necessary steps to improve maternity and neonatal services across England.
Earlier this week, the minister launched a probe into Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, following a BBC investigation that found 56 infant deaths and two maternal deaths over the past five years may have been preventable.
Parents claimed they were made to feel responsible for the failings at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Baroness Amos is leading a national review of maternity services in England, with findings expected in December.
Replying to a question from Labour MP Samantha Niblett (South Derbyshire), Mr Streeting stated,
“I’m deeply concerned by the state of maternity care we inherited in the NHS. That’s why I’ve asked Baroness Amos to chair an independent investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services. Families deserve truth and justice.”
The health secretary added,
“There must be accountability for failings, and services must improve. I’m committing to doing whatever it takes to provide patients and babies with safe, comfortable and dignified care.”
In the Commons, Mr Streeting said he was working with Leeds families to finalise the terms of reference for the investigation.
What did Tracey Fletcher say about care in the coffee area?
Tracey Fletcher, CEO of East Kent Hospitals, said care in the coffee area took place for a short period due to high emergency demand.
She stated,
“Despite the area being screened off to maintain the privacy of patients, we know that this is unacceptable and we are very sorry to patients who have been cared for in this way. This will not be allowed to happen again.”
Ms Fletcher said,
“We are working hard to reduce the time patients wait in our emergency department and are investing £16.2 million to improve and expand the same day emergency care unit and ensure that our patients receive the care and experience they deserve.”
She added,
“Our priority is to see all our patients as quickly and safely as possible in our emergency department. Despite the hard work of our staff, it is sometimes necessary to care for some of our patients in the department’s corridor. We are working hard to stop this.”
What is the NHS 10-year plan?
The NHS 10-year plan aims to create a “Neighbourhood Health Service” by moving care out of hospitals and closer to people’s homes through new Neighbourhood Health Centres, which will be the first point of access for integrated care
The plan includes a major expansion of the NHS App will make it a “front door” to the health service, offering a “doctor in your pocket” for advice, appointment booking, and access to a single patient record.