Top doctor warns 'money alone' won't fix the crisis facing the NHS, as health secretary prepares to give update on winter planning

Dr Caroline Whitworth says the NHS is seeing an increase in respiratory infections like Covid and flu

A top doctor from NHS Lothian says staff are concerned about the upcoming winter because the pressure has been so bad during the summer. Image: Jeff Moore/Press Association.

A top doctor from NHS Lothian is warning money alone won’t solve the crisis facing the NHS, as Health Secretary Michael Matheson prepares to give an update on winter planning.

Mr Matheson will make a statement to MSPs on Tuesday 24 October on what the Scottish Government is doing to get the NHS ready for the upcoming winter.

This comes after the Royal College of Emergency Medicine warned Scotland should be prepared for the worst NHS winter on record.

Now Dr Caroline Whitworth, acute medical director at NHS Lothian, warns those working in the health service are particularly concerned about the upcoming winter because there has been “pressure throughout the summer”.

She said this is due to an increase in respiratory infections like Covid and flu, and bed blocking, which is when patients who are medically able to leave hospital can’t because there is a lack of social care in place for them at home.

Speaking to BBC Good Morning Scotland, Dr Whitworth said: “We’ve seen pressure throughout the summer, which is our biggest concern because we know it gets worse in winter.

“We are seeing an increase in respiratory infections, Covid is still with us, and there is flu - so I would plead with everyone to get their Covid and flu vaccines.

“We are also still seeing very busy front doors.

“In our emergency departments patients are spending too long in there and there are queues to get into beds, partly because of the difficulty in getting patients out of hospital who need more support.”

She said NHS Lothian is working hard to make sure there are “no avoidable delays” in hospitals, which sometimes means those leaving hospital will need to sit in a chair in a discharge lounge rather than staying by their bed so their space is freed up quicker.

Dr Whitworth added: “We all recognise the health services are pressurised across the system, so I guess what we need to ensure is a good flow of patients through our services.

“Social care can enable patients to get out of hospital quicker, making sure there is access to packages of care, nursing homes and care homes, that sort of thing.”

Ahead of Mr Matheson’s speech to parliament, Dr Whitworth said she would like to hear “an understanding that things are going to be difficult” from government ministers.

She also said “money alone is not the answer” and added she has not yet seen the extra staff the government promised in her health board.

Dr Whitworth added: “There needs to be a meaningful conversation with the public on what to expect, and make it clear there are alternatives to coming into the emergency department.

“It is important you don’t go to the emergency department if you don’t need to, there are alternatives.

“We need to ensure people are getting to the right part of the health system if they are worried about their health.

“That’s the key thing I would like to hear - good messaging.”

Mr Matheson is expected to make his statement at around 2.30pm on Tuesday 24 October.