Flu jabs will be scrapped for millions of over-50s and secondary students
(Picture: PA)Health leaders have warned of cuts to NHS appointments and limited visting times due to the Covid and flu “twindemic” predicted this winter.
Covid infections are rising while levels of flu, which had reduced in periods of social distancing, is expected to increase with the polulation having a low immunity.
Meanwhile around 1.3 million tested positive in the last week of September, up by a quarter on the week before.
NHS leaders have warned that the double dangers will pile more pressue on the already overstretched health service.
Saffron Cordery from NHS Providers, which represents trusts in England, said some routine operations could be under threat over the winter.
She told the Independent: “I make no bones about this: we know it’s going to be a pressurised time for trusts over the next four months if not longer. We’re worried about Covid and we’re worried about flu.”
Ms Cordery said the pressures could trigger more staff sickness and the need for greater infection control in hsopitals and other health services with a knock-on impact on patients.
She added “We need to anticipate that there may well be cancellations for either outpatient appointments or routine procedures or operations, because there could be staff shortages or rising demand in emergency care – that means that those routine appointments cannot take place as quickly as we’d like.”
She also predicted increaed waiting times at A&E and for ambulances.
She said: “That’s one of the enduring pressures we’ve seen over the last few months. And we know that that isn’t a good experience for patients or their families. Indeed, it’s very worrying and also very challenging for staff.”
A hospital ward in Hereford reportedly closed down due to a Covid outbreak on the same day the 25 per cent rise in cases across the country was reported.
Dr Layla McCay from NHS Confederation, which represents the healthcare system in England, said: “With huge staff vacancies and an elective care backlog which now stands at nearly seven million patients, the NHS is facing the most challenging winter on record.
“Health leaders around the country are very concerned by the rising rates of Covid and flu as well as the severe pressures the costs of living crisis is having on people’s physical and mental health.”
She added: “The government must now be honest with the public about the service they can expect in the months ahead.”
The NHS has already pledged to create thousands more beds and recruit more emergency call handlers to cope with demand expected this winter.
But a staffing crisis has left the NHS struggling even over the summer months when deamnd for services is lower.
Official data estimates there are 132,000 job vacancies across trusts in England.
Leaders have previously warned the cost of living crisis was also forcing healthcare workers to quit in pursuit of better-paid jobs.
NHS medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “The threat of a Covid-19 and flu season creating a “twindemic” this winter is real, as infections levels continue to rise and the number of people in hospital with covid climbing by more than a third in just over a month across England.
He urged anyone eligible for a Covid autumn booster to take up the officer. “The vaccine remains the best protection against serious illness and hospitalisation from covid this winter.”
Meanwhile the governmnet have pledged more funing and a ‘laser-like’ focus on averting a crisis in the NHS this winter.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are putting a laser-like focus on the issues that affect patients most: Ambulances, Backlogs, Care, Doctors and Dentists – and last month the Health and Social Care Secretary set out a Plan for Patients to improve NHS care over this winter and next.
“As part of it, we will invest an additional £500 million funding in adult social care to speed up hospital discharge and support the social care workforce, freeing up beds for the patients that need them.”
