Services ready for winter – are you?

Health and care organisations across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have come together to agree a plan to help keep everyone safe this winter.

And they are asking everyone to help play a part in making sure the NHS is able to provide the support needed.

Although services are busy year-round, demand always peaks in winter.

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, Chief Medical Officer for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board said: “Winter and the arrival of colder weather always lead to increased demand. People become more vulnerable to breathing-related illness, there are more heart attacks, and we always see an increase in slips and falls.

“This year we are also concerned with the possibility of a ‘twindemic’ – increases in COVID and flu.

“We have to remember that we are still catching up with COVID backlogs, and that sickness rates of our own staff also increase in the winter.

“That’s why we have come together to make sure services are more joined up than ever with a comprehensive Winter Plan.”

Measures include a special falls service that will help people in their own homes, plans to assess more people in their homes before a decision is taken about whether they need to go to hospital, and the recruitment of more health and care reserves.

Dr Edmondson-Jones added: “I would ask that everyone helps play their part in keeping demand on services manageable.

“For instance, if you have a relative or friend who is frail, you can make sure that their home is as free of trip hazards as possible, and that they wear slippers that are not worn out or dangerous. You can also check that they heat their homes properly and don’t become unwell because they are concerned about their bills.

“It is also vitally important that anyone eligible for a flu vaccination and winter COVID booster gets them as soon as possible.”

If you are worried about your health of that of someone you care for you can use 111.nhs.uk or dial 111.