A long serving trauma specialist at a Teesside hospital has outlined plans to help patients this winter.
Sarah Nellis, who works as a Trauma Specialist at the James Cook HospitalĀ in Middlesbrough, says winter pressures are already starting to bite
Sarah said: “Locally what we are needing to do at the moment is reconfigure resources rather than having any additional help, like with beds for example.”
“The way in which we use resources is needing to be looked at and refined so that urgent and emergency care patients are looked after properly.
“Its only the early part of winter, so things will become more strained, however we are looking at different strategies to aid us this winter, like virtual wards where patients will be able to be discharged with support at home to receive treatment such as intravenous, antibiotics etc.”
In September, it was announced by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that Ā£200 million would be invested into the NHS to aid the upcoming winter pressures.
He said: “Winter is the most challenging time for the health service, which is why weāve been planning for it all year – with huge government investment to fund new ambulances, beds and virtual wards.ā
Earlier this month it was also announced by the BBC that the NHS waiting list is it an all time high with 7.75 million people.
And With it being the early part of winter, numbers of people affected by the Flu and Covid-19 strains are expected to rapidly rise.
But Sarah said:Ā Ā “It will be hard this winter, but I can assure the public we will do our very best as always and that we will get through it.”
