With frostier weather and icy mornings afoot, there is a significant increase in illness, falls and hospitalisations among the elderly. Recent studies have shown that the proportion of patients admitted during winter months has increased substantially. Many patients are hospitalised for longer periods of time, resulting in hospitals having less flexibility to manage the demand for hospital beds.
As staff shortages and a planned ambulance service strike plague an already strained NHS, winter hospitalisations can lead to further pressure on healthcare institutions. Mounting pressure on the NHS this winter is set to be worse than in previous years, with waiting times hitting record highs in November 2022.
