Publish date: 20 December 2023
The NHS is preparing earlier than ever this year for what is expected to be another challenging winter.
Across the country, extra ambulances and beds, and the rapid expansion of the world-leading virtual wards programme, are helping keep patients out of hospitals and treating more people at home and in the community.
There were 358,797 calls answered by the NHS 111 service early in December - 14% more than the 315,788 in the same week last year - but despite the increase in calls, thanks to measures to boost resilience and grow the number of call handlers, more than twice the proportion of calls answered last week were answered within a minute (from 32% to 69%).
In Cheshire and Merseyside, the NHS is working closely with partners in social care to help speed up hospital discharge and ensure people get the care they need more quickly in the community.
The public can help play their part in keeping well this winter by getting winter vaccines when they are invited to, keeping their home warm, keeping active, looking out for others, and making sure people are stocked up on prescriptions ahead of holiday periods.
It’s also really important for members of the public to continue to access services in the usual way - using 999 in an emergency, and NHS 111 for help and advice with all other urgent health needs.
For further information, visit www.mcht.nhs.uk/winter
Remember to order prescriptions early
To avoid delays in getting your medicines over the festive period, please order prescriptions in good time. You can order repeat prescriptions through the NHS App or at your local general practice.
