The health secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said the NHS should expect a harder winter than usual after a summer of extreme heat put the service under extra strain.
She announced £140m for urgent care in England, to be spread across 14 schemes including new urgent care centres, ambulances and upgraded emergency departments. The government says preparations for winter began in July.
Five heatwaves hit the UK this summer, some setting new temperature records, and government figures show close to 7.3 million A&E attendances between June and August, the most ever recorded for that period. NHS England leaders have also reported early signs of a heavy flu season, with hospital admissions unusually high for October. Patients who are eligible are being urged to get their winter vaccinations.
Source: Sky News
