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Wearing a mask if ill is sensible advice - minister We're focussed on supporting NHS - health secretary
(about 4 hours later)
Asking adults to wear a mask if they have a respiratory infection and need to go out is sensible, ministers say. Health Secretary Steve Barclay says the government is focussed on supporting the NHS, but has blamed the pandemic for the struggles it is facing.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said he fully supported the guidance, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Speaking amid mounting concern about the pressure on hospitals, he said work was under way to help free up beds.
The advice, in place for months in England, was reiterated by the UKHSA as schools and workplaces return after the Christmas break. He said this would relieve pressure in A&Es and on ambulance services.
It comes amid mounting pressure on the NHS, partly driven by high rates of Covid and flu. But he said the pandemic had led to rising numbers of people waiting for care, as well as worsening the health of people with chronic conditions.
Mr Harper said he recognised staff were under "tremendous pressure" and the government had offered more resources to the NHS and social care to help services cope. He said people with conditions like heart disease had been reluctant to come forward for support at times during the pandemic - and this was a major factor in the demands now being seen.
This includes a £500m winter fund targeted at helping hospitals discharge patients who are medically fit to leave but cannot because of a lack of support available in the community. He acknowledged the NHS was facing huge challenges, but said the government was providing extra funding to help.
"I hope these resources are going to help in the coming months to relieve some of the pressure on our hard-worked health and care staff," Mr Harper said. This includes a £500m winter fund that has been set up to help hospitals discharge patients who are medically fit to leave but cannot because of a lack of support available in the community.
Winter set to be worst for A&E, health leaders warn And he added: "We are so focussed on getting people out of hospital who do not need to be there."
Pressure on the NHS is unsustainable, medics warn
It was "sensible" to ask ill adults to wear masks if needed to go out, he said, but best to stay home if possible.
The UKHSA has also asked parents to keep children off school if they have a fever.
There have been sharp rises in the numbers of people in hospital with Covid and flu in recent weeks - about one in eight beds in England is now occupied by patients with these infections.
In recent days, a number of hospitals have declared critical incidents, suggesting they cannot function as usual because of extraordinary pressure.In recent days, a number of hospitals have declared critical incidents, suggesting they cannot function as usual because of extraordinary pressure.
Senior doctors have described the NHS as on a knife edge, with some accident and emergency units in a "complete state of crisis".Senior doctors have described the NHS as on a knife edge, with some accident and emergency units in a "complete state of crisis".
But Downing Street said the government had been "up front" with the public about the pressure the NHS would face this winter. It comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reiterated the importance of people wearing masks if they are ill and need to go out.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman acknowledged that the current pressure on the health service was an "unprecedented challenge". The UKHSA has also asked parents to keep children off school if they have a fever.
He said: "I think we are confident we are providing the NHS with the funding it needs - and as we did throughout the pandemic - to deal with these issues." There have been sharp rises in the numbers of people in hospital with Covid and flu in recent weeks - about one in eight beds in England is now occupied by patients with these infections.
Winter set to be worst for A&E, health leaders warn
Pressure on the NHS is unsustainable, medics warn
'I had to sleep in my car while waiting for an emergency op''I had to sleep in my car while waiting for an emergency op'
Having gone to A&E with stomach pain, Michael Woodcock, from Harrogate, was told he needed an emergency operation because his appendix was at risk of bursting.Having gone to A&E with stomach pain, Michael Woodcock, from Harrogate, was told he needed an emergency operation because his appendix was at risk of bursting.
It was late at night and he was booked in for surgery the following day.It was late at night and he was booked in for surgery the following day.
But with no beds available, asked nurses whether he could sleep in his car rather than a waiting-room chair.But with no beds available, asked nurses whether he could sleep in his car rather than a waiting-room chair.
"I ended up getting some blankets from the nurses and sleeping in the car for a few hours and then heading back into the hospital in the morning for the operation," Mr Woodcock said."I ended up getting some blankets from the nurses and sleeping in the car for a few hours and then heading back into the hospital in the morning for the operation," Mr Woodcock said.
Labour criticised the government's management of the health service, while the Liberal Democrats called for Parliament to be recalled early.Labour criticised the government's management of the health service, while the Liberal Democrats called for Parliament to be recalled early.
MPs are due back at Westminster next Monday, following their Christmas break.MPs are due back at Westminster next Monday, following their Christmas break.
Prof Phil Banfield, who chairs the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, called on the government to "step up and take immediate action".Prof Phil Banfield, who chairs the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, called on the government to "step up and take immediate action".
The situation was "intolerable and unsustainable", he said, with the NHS's survival on a knife edge and patients needlessly dying because of a political choice.The situation was "intolerable and unsustainable", he said, with the NHS's survival on a knife edge and patients needlessly dying because of a political choice.
Richard Webber, of the College of Paramedics, said the current situation was the worst in his 30-year career.Richard Webber, of the College of Paramedics, said the current situation was the worst in his 30-year career.
Delays were causing patients "significant harm", he said, with ambulance services now struggling to find available crews for cardiac arrests - the highest category of emergency call.Delays were causing patients "significant harm", he said, with ambulance services now struggling to find available crews for cardiac arrests - the highest category of emergency call.
"I've never known anything like it," Mr Webber said."I've never known anything like it," Mr Webber said.
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