PREPARATIONS for a demanding winter at York Hospital are underway - but one doctor believes staff are in for a challenging period and a worse time than they experienced last year.

A review of how York Hospital coped during winter 2016/17 found it was ‘hit hard’ by delayed discharges, while crucial ambulance handover and waiting time targets were missed.

With the weather set to change over the coming weeks, staff are beginning to put plans in place to cope with increasing demands for help.

This comes after hospitals were urged to brace themselves for a “pressurised” flu season by the head of NHS England Simon Stevens.

The comments come at the tail end of a “heavy flu outbreak” in the Southern Hemisphere.

Hospitals in Australia and New Zealand struggled to cope, with some forced to close their doors to new patients and people faced long waiting times.

However, with York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust set to run out of money in October, Dr David Fair, a GP with the Jorvik medical practice, is urging eligible patients to get a flu vaccine to ease the strain.

He said: “As far as preparations for winter are concerned, the Department for Health hasn’t put any contingency measures in place and are keeping their fingers crossed.

“My feeling is this winter is going to be even worse because of financial issues, everyone is a year older and there are huge issues with reduced manpower.

“Every aspect of NHS manpower is really on their knees.”

However, Dr Fair said more patients are taking care of themselves when they become ill over the winter and realise they do not need to put pressure on their doctor by making an unnecessary appointment.

“Patients are continuing to behave responsibly and they are accepting they don’t need antibiotics for simple viral infections.

“People recognise they can go to their pharmacy for remedies without going through their GP first.

“If they are prepared to be patient they will get better.”

A spokeswoman for York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said its preparations for winter began earlier than every before, with staff working with Yorkshire Ambulance Service and social services to agree the best response.

She said: “Wherever possible we will ensure patients are cared for in a more appropriate setting outside of hospital - rather than being admitted to a hospital bed.

“The Trust will be working closely with colleagues in primary care and local authorities to ensure patients are prioritised who need access to acute care and we will open extra capacity for acute assessment when required. In addition we will be focusing on improving efficiency around patient flow processes, to reduce delays to patients.”