NHS patients may die in winter crisis
PATIENTS could die this winter because the NHS is “dangerously” unprepared, hospital bosses have warned.
They fear it will be even more chaotic than last year, when the Red Cross described it as a “humanitarian crisis”.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents English trusts, said: “We must act now to prevent the situation becoming even worse this winter.”
He warned lives could be lost because patients are being forced to spend long periods waiting in ambulances outside A&E or on trolleys.
Mr Hopson called for £200million-£350million to be provided immediately for extra staff and hospital beds.
He said a £1billion Government initiative to ease pressure on hospitals had failed.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “The NHS has prepared for winter more this year than ever before.”