§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has asked for from NHS hospitals in England and Wales on the recent pressures they have faced; and what were the main issues of concern reported by those hospitals. [113849]
§ Ms StuartThe National Health Service Executive in England has held a series of seminars for local winter planning groups (which include NHS trusts) in each region to consider the main issues emerging from the winter period.
The main concerns reported by NHS trusts were peaks in emergency admissions from patients suffering from influenza and respiratory illness, staff shortages and the cancellation of operations because of pressure on critical care beds.