THE coming winter is likely to be even more difficult than the last for East Lancashire hospital trusts, staff and patients, warns a new report from NHS Providers.

Steeling ourselves for winter 2018/19 explores how resilient the sector is to the pressures it will face this coming winter.

It welcomes improvements that have been put in place by trusts and the national bodies, but also highlights areas where the challenges for the coming winter are even greater than this time last year.

But it found that despite trusts’ best efforts, for many patients the quality of care fell short of what the public rightly expects.

This report, based on published national data and detailed perspectives from trust leaders, says the challenges this winter are likely to be even more severe.

It sets out the balance of risks and benefits compared with 12 months ago.

Factors suggesting winter could be worse this time include continued acceleration in demand for care, significantly outstripping planning estimates and worse A&E performance so far this year.

Pressure across all other hospital activity restricting ability to prioritise urgent care, greater pressure across mental health, community and ambulance services and higher levels of staff vacancies could all have negative impacts.

And trusts are facing more tired and pressured workforce making it more difficult than last year to fill extra shifts.

The deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said: “Trusts and their staff put in extraordinary efforts last year to meet record demand, demand which continues to grow every winter.

"Despite measures to prioritise emergency care, it was clear that in many places the quality of care for patients feel short of what the public rightly expects.

“As attention turns to what this winter will bring, there are many improvements which have been put in place to welcome.

"Extra funding for capital projects and additional social care funding has enabled some trusts to better prepare and will provide some help in ensuring patients who don’t need to be in hospital have appropriate care at home or in the community.

“But there are clear warning signs. Performance is in a worse position going into this winter than last. Staff shortages are growing, putting additional strain on a workforce already overstretched during an exceptionally busy summer.

"All things considered, trusts fear that this coming winter will be more difficult than the last."