The NHS is preparing a Covid-style campaign that will urge Brits to avoid A&E and to only dial 999 when absolutely necessary this winter – as the health service braces for a potential new coronavirus wave and a surge in deaths from cold homes amid soaring energy costs.
In a letter to health chiefs, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said winter planning had begun earlier than usual, ‘recognising pressure on the NHS is likely to be substantial, particularly in urgent and emergency care’.
Attached information to the letter asked hospitals to ‘implement your winter communications strategy to support the public to minimise pressures on urgent and emergency services’.
It comes after similar ‘Stay at Home’ measures following the onset of the pandemic helped fuel an enormous backlog, with the number of those who have waited for two years or more to receive treatment at around 6,700 in June.
The Daily Telegraph reports a renewed ‘help us help you’ campaign to be launched later this year is…
