Streeting: NHS faces undeniable strain this winter, here are my emergency plans ...Middle East

I’ve been told many times by NHS doctors, GPs, nurses, and clinical staff: as winter arrives, it brings a real mix of emotions.

Determination, stoicism, but also rightful pride in their ability to deliver care under undeniable strain.

This year, I know staff are rightly concerned about what’s coming.

They have faith in themselves – of course they do – but their confidence in the wider system has been shaken after decades of mismanagement, little investment and a general lack of forward-thinking.

With more British Medical Association (BMA)-led resident doctor strikes looming and a longer, more intense flu season expected this year, staff and the services they run will come under a fresh bout of pressure.

This will be a tough winter, and it will be a long one.

But with the changes we’re making in the NHS, patients and staff can be confident that we’re doing all we can to weather that storm, not just for this winter, but for many to come.

Winter plans have been stress-tested

Firstly, we’ve prepared the system in a way that hasn’t been done in years.

We’re working hard with every trust to minimise reliance on last-resort workarounds. Across the country, winter plans have been stress-tested against three stages: Preparation, Staying Ahead, and Response.

Local systems submitted detailed discharge and emergency plans early, tested them against multiple winter scenarios, and are being supported to strengthen weaknesses and deal with gaps.

That level of foresight and coordination simply didn’t exist before.

Too many politicians, leaders and staff simply closed their eyes, got through winter, and then tried to move on from it like it hasn’t become an annual nightmare. Sadly, for some, recent years have been made to feel like a winter crisis all year round.

Secondly, we’re helping patients and staff protect themselves through vaccination. With winter flu season starting five weeks earlier than normal, we know it’s going to hit hard.

We’ve ramped up activity to boost vaccination rates across the board – the best defence for patients, staff and hospitals against the rising tide of flu this winter. From booking flu, Covid and RSV jabs through the NHS App, to pop-up clinics in fire stations, mobile buses and pharmacies, we’re using innovation and community outreach to bring vaccines to people’s doorsteps. We’re making it easier for staff to get jabbed and for the first time, parents can get their two and three-year-olds vaccinated against flu at local pharmacies.

Third, true to our commitment in our 10 Year Health Plan, we’re forging as many routes as possible to keep people away from A&E in the first place – doing things differently, not just to get through winter but to change how the NHS works so that we don’t face the same problems year after year.

You can see your GP more easily

We’re making sure you can see your GP more easily – with new online access to GP surgeries and longer practice hours in place, so more patients get the care and support they need closer to home instead of heading straight to A&E.

More than 50 per cent of practices were already offering this expanded service before 1 October’s mandated deadline, despite BMA grumbles.

Locally, NHS services are working more closely with councils, primary care and care homes to improve joined up care and get people out of hospital beds when they don’t need to be there.

Systems have been stress-tested to make sure the right staff are in the right place, at the right time.

We’re investing in urgent and emergency care to help get it back on its feet, with a £450m boost to bring in 500 new ambulances by March 2026, new urgent treatment centres, and tougher performance standards to drive improvement.

And across the NHS, smart modernisation is making life easier for patients and staff.

In East Lancashire, digital check-ins are cutting waiting room occupancy almost in half.

Surrey Downs’ joined-up community care is helping more people recover safely at home, thanks to consultant-led “virtual wards”.

square NHS

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And in Bradford, an AI “command centre” is speeding up discharge and boosting A&E performance.

Proof that modern, connected care can work for everyone.

We know there are risks we can’t control this winter. But we’re confronting those challenges with open eyes, open minds and detailed plans.Our 10 Year Health Plan would mean nothing if we left these things to chance.

With foresight, partnership and confidence in our NHS workforce, this winter can mark, not another ordeal, but the start of lasting change. This winter, we’re putting preparation into practice – and building a stronger NHS for the future.

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