AMBULANCES queueing outside A&E and overcrowded casualty waiting rooms crammed with patients waiting hours for treatment are becoming the norm every winter in UK hospitals. They are the visible signs of the strain that austerity is putting on the NHS.

It seems likely that things will be every bit as bad this year as they w ere last year - if not worse.

York Hospitals Trust announced in August that it had a deficit of £13.8 million - and would have to borrow money to ensure it could still operate.

The Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group, meanwhile - the body responsible for commissioning health care in the York area - is projected to be an even more worrying £53.9 million in debt by the end of next year.

Today, York GP Dr David Fair issued a stark warning about the effect of cuts and lack of investment.

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

His warning comes as the head of NHS England Simon Stevens warned hospitals to brace for a “pressurised”

flu season - and in the wake of a “heavy flu outbreak” in the southern hemisphere.

It all sounds grim. York Hospital would today confirm only that its preparations for winter had begun earlier than ever before, with hospital staff working with both the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and social services to agree on the best way of coping.

Wherever possible, she said, the idea would be for patients to be cared for without having to be admitted to hospital.

The underlying message seems to be “don’t get ill this winter”.