Under the government’s winter preparation plan, which aims to help the NHS cope during the colder months, the 24/7 “care traffic control centres” are expected to be created in every local area.
The warning came as NHS bosses set out further details of its plans to help the health service cope this winter.
This includes rapid response teams to help people who have fallen at home and “data war rooms” to monitor pressures.
The return of normal winter viruses along with Covid will place huge strain on hospitals, NHS England said.
It said the modelling, which has not been published, was very much a worst-case scenario – even during the peak of the pandemic, Covid did not lead to such high levels of beds being occupied.
NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said it was important to be prepared.
“Winter comes hot on the heels of an extremely busy summer – and with the combined impact of flu, Covid and record NHS staff vacancies – in many ways, we are facing more than the threat of a ‘twindemic’ this year,” she said.
“So it is right that we prepare as much as possible – the NHS is going further than it ever has before in anticipation of a busy winter.”
It is hoped the centres will make it easier and quicker for decisions, such as if hospitals need extra assistance or if ambulances need to be diverted, to be made.
It will mark the first time a system has been used to take stock of all activity and performance within the NHS.
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NHS England believes this expansion could see about 55,000 ambulance trips freed up to treat other patients each year.
On top of that, NHS chiefs have vowed to roll out around-the-clock access to professional mental health advice within ambulance services to help give more people access to the correct community support.
“We continue to be in a Level 3 incident, and services are under continued, significant pressure, with challenges including timely discharge of patients impacting on patient flow within hospitals, alongside ongoing pressures in mental health services,” it stated.
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“We therefore all need to be prepared for things to get even tougher over the coming weeks and months.
“We will support you in doing your best under these very difficult circumstances, including as you work with and support clinical leaders to ensure risk is managed appropriately across local systems.”
The NHS says it is expecting to see a “very challenging winter”, with respiratory infections, including Covid, flu and pneumonia, predicted to be one of the most significant pressures.
Recent modelling has suggested that such health issues could occupy up to half of all NHS beds throughout the already busy season.
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