The NHS is facing the “most difficult winter in its history”, with almost 90% of hospital trust leaders feeling “extremely concerned”, research has found.
NHS Providers, which carried out the survey, said that while cases of COVID-19 are “well below” their peak in January, some trusts are “beyond full stretch”.
It is urging the government to offer cash bonuses of about £500 to stop social care staff leaving for jobs in “hospitality, supermarkets, or online firms such as Amazon”.
Image: Almost 90% of trust leaders surveyed said they were extremely concerned. File pic
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said the bill would come to about £750m.
He said: “While £500 is not as high as some employers in retail and hospital are offering as a ‘golden hello’ in the run up to Christmas, this is a price worth paying if it helps keep social care functioning as we need it to through the winter.”
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The organisation said the “traditional peak of winter demand usually runs from mid-November to end-February, with pressure often greatest in January”.
Health leaders are calling on the government to take “immediate, emergency action to support social care”, it added.
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Image: Many trusts are said to be finding it difficult to recruit staff. File pic
NHS Providers said it had spoken to 172 board level trust leaders from 114 trusts,
According to its results, 87% are extremely concerned about the impact of winter on their trust and local area.
When asked the same question last year, the figure was 56%.
Moreover, 94% said they are extremely or moderately concerned about staff burnout.
Mr Hopson said that some trust leaders are “finding it impossible to recruit extra staff”.
People who work in care homes in England must now be double-vaccinated, while those in other health settings have been given an April deadline.
Image: The BHF says there is a ‘cardiology NHS workforce crisis’. File pic
Meanwhile, the number of people waiting more than six weeks for a heart scan is 20 times higher than it was before the pandemic, a charity has said.
In addition, analysis from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has found that NHS England is doing 10,000 fewer echocardiograms (echos) each month than before the pandemic.
Echos look at the structure of the heart and are routinely used to diagnose congenital disease and problems with valves.
The BHF said it is concerned that reduced access to the tests may have created a large backlog of people who need treatment.
“Long waits put lives at risk,” it said. “Delaying a heart disease diagnosis increases the likelihood of death or disability.”
It said the government “must act now” to address the “cardiology NHS workforce crisis” and outline how “newly announced diagnostic centres” could be brought into play.
The most recent figures show that at the end of September, 64,962 people in England had waited more than six weeks for an echo, compared to 3,238 at the end of February 2020, BHF said.
The total waiting list is 149,050, with 44% waiting six weeks or more.
Image: Diane Phillimore is waiting for a scan, and says the ‘whole situation is shocking’
Diane Phillimore, 63, a carer from Calnein Wiltshire, needs an echocardiogram to show if she requires surgery to repair or replace a valve in her heart.
Her original appointment in March 2020 was cancelled because of the pandemic. It has now been rescheduled for this month – 20 months later.
“The whole situation is shocking,” she said. “I just want to know if I need surgery or if my heart is working properly, so I can move forward. Until then, it’s always there in the back of my mind.”
Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director at BHF, said: “Waiting lists for heart treatments were too long even before the pandemic began.
“Without an echocardiogram, doctors can’t see how well the heart is working and if someone needs potentially life saving treatment for heart disease.”
The Department for Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.
A man has died after suffering cardiac arrest onboard a boat attempting to reach the UK.
The vessel turned back towards Equihen beach on the French coast yesterday morning.
A nurse tried to resuscitate the man but was unsuccessful.
Image: Pic: PA
French authorities have now launched an investigation into the circumstances.
A spokesperson for Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, has criticised authorities on both sides of the Channel.
Jacob Burns said: “Yet again we have a tragedy in the Channel, that is the consequence of the deadly, costly and ineffective security policies implemented by the UK and France.”
Image: Pic: PA
Later on Saturday, a lifeboat carried migrants who have made the voyage into the Port of Dover.
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Photographs showed them huddled under blankets and orange life jackets on board.
“The opportunity of tomorrow and what’s on offer is the best thing in football,” the England captain said. “I think we don’t necessarily carry the weight of it and how much it means to people, but we’re aware of it because it means the same to us.”
So often they were only watching other nations making finals.
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England’s first was the men winning the 1966 World Cup.
Image: England manager Sarina Wiegman reacts to defeat against Spain at the Women’s World Cup final in 2023. Pic: Reuters
Image: Lauren James looks dejected after their World Cup defeat, but is confirmed fit for Sunday’s revenge match against Spain. Pic: Reuters
Now, in Basel, comes the chance for revenge against Spain – even though no one in the England camp is saying that, publicly at least, in Switzerland.
Especially knowing how challenging a task it is coming up again against Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putella – the recent winners of football’s biggest individual honours.
Image: England fans celebrating after England beat Italy to reach the finals. Pic: Reuters
Image: Given England’s history against Spain, it could be a nerve-wracking time for England fans. File pic: Action Images/Reuters
But this is Spain’s first Euros final.
And there is some fear from the world champions at England’s grit and resolve to produce comebacks late in the quarter-finals and semi-finals – with 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang’s goals integral to the fightbacks.
Image: England celebrate their semi-final win against Italy to reach the finals. Pic: Reuters
Image: Michelle Agyemang has propelled England to the Euro 2025 final with two vital goals. Pic: AP
Spain captain Irene Paredes reflected yesterday on how the Lionesses can flip a result late on.
But she was also discussing how their World Cup win was tarnished by the on-pitch kiss that led to former Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales being convicted of a sexual assault on striker Jenni Hermoso.
It sparked a wider clamour in Spain for improved rights and respect for women.
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Spain’s players struggle for respect
“Since then [2023] we took big steps forward,” Paredes said.
“I think this idea is disappearing from society. I still believe we have to continue opening doors… we’re a reference for boys and girls in society, but we still have things to do.”
It is a reminder that while tonight is about collecting silverware, both England and Spain know that emerging as champions can drive further growth in women’s football back home.
Amid it all, they’ll try to savour just what reaching a final means and how rare they are – until recently for English and Spanish women.
A woman who thought she was being injected with Botox was left unable to swallow and doctors thought she had suffered a stroke – after she contracted a life-threatening illness from a potentially illegal product.
Nicola Fairley is one of dozens of people who have developed botulism linked to unlicensed anti-wrinkle injections.
She had the procedure done with her regular beautician after winning a Facebook competition for three areas of “Botox”.
Image: Nicola Fairley
“Within two or three hours my forehead and the sides of my eyes had started to freeze,” Nicola says.
“At first I thought ‘amazing’, that’s what I wanted – then it just carried on.”
Nicola was eventually sent to A&E in Durham, where she met several other patients who all had similar symptoms.
Doctors were stumped. “They thought I’d had a stroke,” she says.
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“We all had problems with our eyes, some of us with our breathing. I couldn’t swallow – they put me on nil by mouth because they were worried I would choke in the waiting room.”
Image: Doctors were worried Nicola could choke after she was injected with a suspected illegal product
It turns out all of the patients had recently had anti-wrinkle injections containing botulinum toxin.
Health officials believe they were imported, illegal products.
Botulism – the disease they caused – is so rare many doctors never see it in their entire careers.
It can cause symptoms including slurred speech and breathing problems, and can be deadly.
The disease is so unusual, and so many cases were coming in, that doctors exhausted their stocks of anti-toxin and had to ask hospitals as far away as London to get more.
The UK Health Security Agency has so far confirmed 38 cases of botulism linked to cosmetic toxin injections, but Sky News has been told of several more.
The outbreak began in the North East but cases have now been seen in the East of England and East Midlands as well.
There are only a handful of legal botulinum toxin products in the UK – of which Botox is one.
But cosmetic treatments are largely unregulated, with anyone allowed to inject products like fillers and toxins without any medical training.
Cheap, illegal products imported from overseas are easily available.
Image: Dr Steven Land
‘It’s the Wild West’
Dr Steven Land runs Novellus Aesthetics clinic in Newcastle upon Tyne. He worked for decades as an emergency medicine doctor before moving into aesthetics.
He says he has been warning health officials of an outbreak for years.
“It’s the Wild West,” Dr Land told Sky News.
“Because anyone can do this, there is a lack of knowledge around what is legal, what’s not legal, what is okay to be injected.
“These illegal toxins could have 50 units, 5,000 units or rat poison – there could be anything in there.”