As the year draws to a close and the holiday break approaches, the NHS in London is asking the public to help reduce demand on NHS services in the run up to Christmas.
As winter viruses flourish, the NHS is under increased pressure, with more patients coming into hospital sick and space urgently needed to treat them. Last week saw flu admissions increase daily with 1,621 people being admitted to hospitals across the capital, a 67% increase on the week before.
The increase in people needing hospital treatment can be prevented by people getting a flu vaccine. For anyone eligible and still not protected, today (Thursday) is your last chance to book winter vaccinations online or via NHS 111 for an appointment at a local vaccination site. From tomorrow, you can still visit a COVID-19 walk-in vaccination site or find a pharmacy offering the flu vaccine, but you may have to travel further.
Over 1.5 million people in London have taken up the flu vaccine this winter which has been provided at GP surgeries, community pharmacies and schools. Getting vaccinated is people’s best defence against winter viruses and will help prevent people from becoming seriously ill, reduce the number of people needing hospital care and help keep people at home with their families over the festive period.
Hospitals across the country struggle throughout the year to discharge patients who are clinically ready to leave hospital but who do not have somewhere ready to go to. This sometimes means other people wait longer for an emergency admission and a bed to become available. Never is this more of a challenge for the NHS than over the Christmas and New Year period, when those beds are vital to treat the sickest people.
NHS England London’s Medical Director, Chris Streather, said:
“Our staff are already working harder than ever to treat the sickest patients many of whom require time in hospital for treatment for flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or other seasonal sicknesses.
“At the same time, it is always the case at this time of year that the NHS is caring for high numbers of patients who are actually ready to go home and spend the Christmas break with their families. Spending Christmas in hospital may be necessary for some but once you have had the care that you need in hospital, research shows that going home will help you get better much faster.
“The longer people stay in a hospital bed, the harder they may find it to get up and about as you get better. So, it’s really important that we work with families and patients to get them home when it is safe to do so.”
Over the festive period NHS staff will continue to do an incredible job in managing the additional pressure on NHS services. The public can play their part too by using services as they normally would – dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency, visit 111 online for urgent health needs or visit a local pharmacy.
Across London the NHS has put in preparations to prepare for the busy winter period to prevent people from being admitted to hospital. These include:
Around 2,000 virtual awards are available to allow patients to get the care they need at home safely and conveniently, rather than being in hospital. There were over 1,600 people treated in virtual wards in London in November 2024.
There are 36 urgent treatment centres that are open at least 12 hours a day, seven days a week, with appointments offered through 111 or by GP referral. One of these has recently been upgraded at Barnet Hospital where it is now located in a dedicated space, which is better equipped to treat more patients in the right place at the right time.
System co-ordination centres (SCC) are in place in every ICB in London, which brings together teams from across the NHS, social care, housing and voluntary services in one place to help make live decisions, identifying the best discharge options for patients to be able to recover in their own homes, in social or community care. North East London Health and Care Partnership’s SCC uses real-time data, providing staff with vital oversight of how busy services are in North East London at any given time.
There are 28 Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services across the capital which help reduce waiting times and admissions to hospitals. The SDEC unit at Chelsea and Westminster hospital is helping with both demand and capacity management this winter. After initial triage, they can move a cohort of patients directly to the SDEC where they will be seen by clinicians and given the care they need. On average they are providing care to 40-45 patients per day in the SDEC which helps flow within the emergency department.
Community diagnostic centres are in operation across 14 sites in London, freeing up hospital capacity by offering MRI, CT and other services closer to patient’s homes.
Top tips for families and friends bringing someone home from hospital include:
Make sure they have their prescription medicines available or help by picking them up before the festive period, or before bad weather hits.
If your loved one needs help while GP practices or pharmacies are closed, NHS 111 is here for them, visit 111.nhs.uk for advice on what to do and where to go. A little care can go a long way.
Ensure they have sufficient amounts to eat and drink.
Make sure there are no trip hazards to prevent falls.
If your loved one needs to go out then ensure they have sturdy shoes with a good grip. A scarf around the mouth will help to protect them from the cold air, and to reduce their risk of chest infections.
