Burnham admits NHS faces difficult winter as he unveils £40m to help keep patients out of hospital

Burnham admits NHS faces difficult winter as he unveils £40m to help keep patients out of hospital Health secretary Yvette Cooper said the NHS had already had a ‘heavy summer’ as a result of a series of heatwaves - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Andy Burnham has warned this winter won’t be easy for the NHS as he announced a £40 million plan to try to keep patients out of hospital to take the pressure off overworked Accident & Emergency departments. The money will help doctors give extra care to those at risk of becoming seriously unwell during the colder months, such as those with conditions like heart disease and frailty. Groups of GP practices will get £126 for each patients supported. The prime minister said: “If we want to take the pressure off our hospitals this winter, we’ve got to keep people well at home. So we’re backing GPs to reach the most vulnerable people early, before a small problem turns into a trip to A&E.” He added: “I’m not going to pretend this winter will be easy. But with new technology, upgrades for hospitals and more care available closer to home, we’ll make sure the NHS is there for everyone when they need it.” The health secretary Yvette Cooper warned the NHS had already faced a “heavy summer” as a result of a series of heatwaves. The warning comes amid continuing concerns about overcrowding in hospitals and patients being treated in corridors as emergency departments struggle to cope with demand. In January 2025 Wes Streeting, the then health secretary, said patients had been “let down” by being treated in makeshift wards and left waiting for hours for ambulances as a ‘winter crisis’ engulfed the NHS. But last month the Royal College of Physicians warned there was still much the government had to do to ensure “corridor care becomes a thing of the past”. The money, reallocated from existing GP budgets, will help doctors’ surgeries identify and intervene with patients they believe are most at risk of becoming very unwell this winter. Extra support will be targeted at patients with heart disease, frailty and lung conditions like emphysema and other types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Medication reviews, health checks and respiratory clinics led by nurses are among the support that will be available for up to 300,000 people. Ed Kennedy, director of the Institute of General Practice Management, welcomed the move, saying: “General practice teams know their patients and are well placed to identify those most vulnerable, providing proactive and personalised care that helps people stay well and reduces avoidable pressure on hospitals.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments