The preparations cover hospital, community and social care services, alongside vaccination programmes delivered through GP practices, pharmacies and school health teams.
Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical director at NHS England in the North West, said “Testing our plans against realistic scenarios, before winter arrives proper, means we go into the coldest months better prepared, better joined up, and better placed to protect patients and support our staff.”
In Greater Manchester, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s Integrated Transfer of Care Hub coordinates support for adults leaving hospital.
The team arranges access to community services and aims to have ongoing care needs assessed in patients’ usual place of residence wherever possible.
North West Ambulance Service is also working with Age UK to deliver falls-prevention sessions for people at greater risk of falling and those who support them.
According to the ambulance service, around one in 10 calls it receives through 999 concerns someone who has fallen.
More than 100 people attended the first of three events at County Hall in Preston in early October. Further sessions are planned during November.
Elsewhere in the region, same-day emergency care opening hours are being extended at Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General Hospital. Additional nursing teams are also being introduced at both sites.
In Cheshire and Merseyside, care coordination hubs are being introduced to give healthcare professionals access to clinical assessment, advice and referrals into urgent and community services.
Dr Gregory urged the public to support winter preparations.
He said “I’d ask the public to offer their support and help to keep well by accessing important vaccinations if eligible and using NHS services appropriately during winter months and beyond.”
