After an ‘unrelenting summer’ NHS staff in Dorset start plans for Winter

Those are the words of University Hospitals Dorset's deputy chief medical officer after an 'unrelenting' season for health staff.

Doctor Matt Thomas said while health staff would normally have some respite during the summer months, this year had been busier than ever.

READ MORE: Patient wait times reach record high for NHS care in Dorset

Staff have "worked their socks off" he told the Daily Echo, but it had been "probably the worst summer that I’ve experienced at Poole Hospital and I've been here now for 27 years."

Management teams at UHD are now working on plans to face the additional pressures that winter will bring.

It comes as the head of the NHS has told hospitals to prepare public health campaigns to help “minimise” pressure on A&E departments over the winter.

In a letter to health chiefs, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said winter planning has begun earlier than usual, “recognising pressure on the NHS is likely to be substantial, particularly in urgent and emergency care”.

Information attached to the letter asks hospitals to “implement your winter communications strategy to support the public to minimise pressures on urgent and emergency services”.

Mr Thomas said: “Summer is still here to a degree, but actually we're looking ahead to winter now and what are we doing for our staff, with their vaccines, for flu and things like that to help protect the patients.

“We will be carrying on the work we're doing to move patients through the system as quickly and effectively as possible.

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“During the winter, we typically see a lot of patients with respiratory problems, cardiac problems and increased pressure on the trauma services, as well as old people tending to fall over.

“Broken hips is a big factor for us, we're probably one of the largest intakes of broken hips in the UK.

“The pressure will be felt throughout the system and wherever the pressure is felt, it tends to have a knock on to other departments.

“So, if we can keep people who don't need to be in hospital, away from the hospital and move those through that are ready to go home, then we can got space to deal with the patients who really need to be here.

“We really hope that flow continues to improve so that people will be waiting less. We always try and provide the care that we think people deserve and require, so we'll be doing our best to fulfil that.”

Mr Thomas, says the pressure will continue to increase over the winter months but that there are a number of things the public can do to help.

He said: “Everyone says this will be the worst winter that we will have and you never know until you're through it.

"But I would say that having experienced the pressure this summer, this is probably the worst summer that I've experienced at Poole Hospital and I've been here now for 27 years.

“I think the key thing if people are feeling unwell is being polite and wearing a mask if you've got a cough and cold would be really good because even if it's not COVID, it's going to help prevent that spreading and help with the flu and things like that.

“So, keep doing sensible things like washing hands, using the emergency department for emergencies and keeping well. Getting out there doing a bit of exercise and generally looking after yourself, will pay dividends in the long run.”