This is what the Government and media don't tell you, what they'd prefer you not to know, that we don't need Covid for a winter NHS beds crisis, it's perfectly normal, it's an annual event. Ask the Guardian.
2012.
"Hospitals 'full to bursting' as bed shortage hits danger level. Death rates at more than a dozen trusts are worryingly high, says Dr Foster report based on NHS's own performance data"
https://www.theguardian.com/society/...ing-nhs-report
2013.
"Hospitals scramble to prevent crisis in NHS's 'toughest ever' winter. NHS deputy chief executive says service 'pulling out all the stops' to deal with impact of bad weather, flu and vomiting bug".
https://www.theguardian.com/society/...ather-vomiting
2014.
"More patients, overstretched doctors – is the NHS facing a winter crisis? A&Es are already swamped, and the cold snap hasn’t arrived yet"
https://www.theguardian.com/society/...-fewer-doctors
2015.
"Hospital bed occupancy rates hit record high risking care. NHS bed occupancy rates of higher than 85% can increase the risk of problems such as infections and quality of care, research suggests".
https://www.theguardian.com/society/...s-risking-care
2016.
"Hospitals in England told to put operations on hold to free up beds. Health service regulator asks hospitals to postpone most of their planned operations in a drive to make more beds available over Christmas."
https://www.theguardian.com/society/...o-free-up-beds
2017
"NHS bosses sound alarm over hospitals already running at 99% capacity. Bed shortages prompting concern for patient safety even before onset of winter weather and anticipated major flu outbreak"
https://www.theguardian.com/society/...safety-concern
2018.
"NHS intensive care units sending patients elsewhere due to lack of beds. Exclusive: Doctors say 80% of units sending patients to other hospitals amid chronic shortages"
https://www.theguardian.com/society/...tage-hospitals
2019
"Hospital beds at record low in England as NHS struggles with demand. More than 17,000 beds have been cut from the 144,455 that existed in 2010".
https://www.theguardian.com/politics...es-with-demand
Could someone tell me just what is supposed to be so different about this winter ?