Healthwatch England media update - NHS winter crisis
The statement, which is now on the HWE website under the headline Patients and Public Need Urgent Reassurance on NHS Winter Crisis Recovery, highlights that public confidence in A&E services has seen a dramatic fall in recent years, and concerns that current winter pressures are further eroding trust in services being able to provide timely care and calls for immediate NHS action plan. HWE concerns are coupled with a call for an urgent government injection of unrestricted funds into hospital discharge schemes to help ‘stranded patients’ get home and free up thousands of beds for new, seriously unwell patients.
The statement included the following quote from Louise Ansari, National Director for Healthwatch England:
“While we know the NHS is still providing vital treatment to the vast majority of those in need, it is also clear to us that the experience of accessing care is getting worse and that, tragically, for some people they are not getting the help they need in time.”
Notable outlets running Louise’s quote include The Independent and Daily Mail. Louise may also be speaking to the BBC – if this goes ahead, her interview and the full statement could be broadcast to radio stations across the country.
