Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to avoid a repetition of this year’s winter crisis in the NHS.

Rigorous planning takes place each year to ensure the National Health Service is resilient in the face of the challenges winter brings. This year planning began earlier than ever before to ensure robust plans were in place. This planning was supported by an extra £337 million, on top of the previously announced £100 million for accident and emergency departments and an additional £1 billion of funding to be spent on meeting adult social care needs, supporting the social care market and reducing pressure on the NHS this year.

A revised escalation framework encompassing all levels of the system – local, regional and national – has also been put in place to ensure a greater standardisation of response to winter pressures. This is overseen by the newly formed National Emergency Pressures Panel.

We are not, however, complacent and we will continue to focus our efforts on delivering world class health care even in the most challenging of situations.

Influenza vaccination will continue to be offered to everyone over the age of 65 years, those who are at particular risk to flu, pregnant women and healthcare workers, at the earliest opportunity. In addition, in 2018/19 all children between 2-9 years of age are being offered the nasal spray vaccine to help protect them and their families against influenza.

As in previous years, NHS England and NHS Improvement will undertake a full review of this winter and identify any learning that the NHS can take forward into planning for future winters.