Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the NHS preparations for winter.

I am reassured by the measures being put in place by the NHS, which focuses on increasing protection of the population through vaccination. This includes actions to accelerate the COVID-19 booster vaccine roll out and making sure that everyone who is eligible for a flu vaccination is able to get one.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with NHS providers to ensure appropriate plans are in place, including meeting potential increases in the demand for emergency care driven by seasonal flu and COVID-19. 

It is welcome that the NHS will receive an extra £5.4 billion over the next six months to support its response to COVID-19. This includes £2.8 billion to cover related costs such as enhanced infection control measures and £478 million to continue the enhanced hospital discharge programme, to maintain capacity.

The Government is also taking action to increase NHS capacity so that the health service is well equipped to reduce waiting lists for operations such as hip and knee replacements.  Alongside the £8 billion funding announced in the Spending Review 2021, a plan for recovering elective care will shortly be published by NHS England and Improvement.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Yours,

EDWARD LEIGH MP