HEALTH chiefs in Bradford and the wider region are expecting “substantial” winter pressures, a report has revealed.

The West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board met to discuss its winter planning report, which comes amid fears over a “double threat” of low immunity and widely circulating flu and Covid-19.

The report said that throughout the year, health services in West Yorkshire “have experienced consistently high levels of demand, leading to operational pressures which are more typical of a challenging winter period”.

It added: “There have been three substantial waves of Covid-19 infection since January and staff in A&E and ambulance services have faced one of their busiest summers ever.

“Social care has had significant workforce challenges as competition from other sectors of the economy has increased.

“This has contributed to increasing delays in discharging people from hospital in a timely way and very high levels of hospital bed occupancy.  

“Against this background it is likely that pressures on health and care services will be substantial over the winter period.”

Dr Mary Ramsay, who is the UK Health Security Agency’s director of public health programmes, said earlier this week that it was “clear now that we are seeing an increase” in levels of Covid-19.

Official figures for Bradford show 338 cases were recorded in the seven days to September 24, an increase of 64 per cent on the previous seven days.

Dr Ramsay said: “Cases have started to climb and hospitalisations are increasing in the oldest age groups. In the coming weeks, we expect a double threat of low immunity and widely circulating flu and Covid-19, creating an unpredictable winter and additional pressure on health services.

“While Covid-19 and flu can be mild infections for many, we must not forget that they can cause severe illness or even death for those most vulnerable in our communities.

“If you are unwell this winter, please try to stay at home and avoid contact with vulnerable people – this will help stop infections spreading.”

The West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board report said outline approval had been given for several schemes to increase hospital bed capacity by around 260 across West Yorkshire in time for winter.

It added: “In addition to increasing the number of hospital beds, proposals have been submitted for additional service development funding to extend the capacity of ‘virtual wards’, which support people who would otherwise have to be admitted to hospital in their own home.”

Virtual wards will focus on “admission avoidance and early supported discharge”.

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