It focuses on five key themes: prevention, the role of pharmacy and general practice, hospital care, local planning and preparations, and whole system flow improvement for the elderly and frail
Tackling ambulance handover delays and vaccination programmes are among key elements of the winter preparedness plan for the health service.
Reducing emergency department attendances and additional assistance for GP practices are also among Health Minister Mike Nesbitt’s blueprint for the traditionally demanding winter season.
The Overarching Winter Preparedness Plan 2025/26 is aimed at taking a whole systems approach and ensuring the best use of resources.
It focuses on five key themes: prevention, the role of pharmacy and general practice, hospital care, local planning and preparations, and whole system flow improvement for the elderly and frail.
Mr Nesbitt said while the health and social care (HSC) system is under pressure all-year round, that is magnified in the winter months.
“To help mitigate this, and deliver the best possible care to those who need it, we again are asking the HSC system and the public to work together to help protect vital services,” he said.
“Learning from the challenges last winter, I brought key HSC leaders together at a series of workshops, the ‘Big Discussion’, to plan for this winter, allowing for a whole systems approach to improve patient and staff experiences. This provided us with a single vision based on the provision of high quality, safe care.”
It includes an extensive vaccination programme, which aims to minimise the impact from winter infections such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Covid-19.
It also aims to tackle ambulance handover delays through a new approach to collaborative working between trusts and the ambulance service. This is to reduce maximum handover delays from four hours to two hours from September to December, with further reductions to achieve a 15 minute standard.
There are also community pharmacy initiatives which encourage and support people to take action to stay well over winter, and support for GP practices, providing 10,000 medical care plans for patients in nursing and residential care homes and more than 98,000 additional sessions to help manage winter pressures.
Mr Nesbitt warned that while efforts can be made to mitigate expected pressures, he said they cannot be eradicated altogether.
“Our health and social care system is already under significant pressure before winter sets in, not least because of the very challenging financial situation,” he said.
“In order to successfully navigate the upcoming winter period, it remains vitally important that we all play our part, to make sure that HSC services are ready and available for those who need them most.
“We must all work together to protect our health service. You can do this by getting vaccinated if eligible, taking steps to stay well and co-operating with hospital discharge processes if you or a family member are well enough to leave hospital.
“I would also encourage service users to attend scheduled appointments or provide timely notice when this is no longer possible, to allow for appointments to be reallocated.
“Please be patient and respectful with our staff as they deal with the increased demand and strive to treat the sickest quickest.”
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