Every year, politicians offer us a new set of excuses for the NHS winter crisis. Found yourself waiting 11 hours in A&E? Blame the bad flu season. Struggling to get a GP appointment? There must be a bad strain of Covid on the rise.
There are several factors behind the inevitable meltdown in our health service over the festive period, but none are more pressing than the crisis in social care. Around 12,000 patients were stuck in hospital despite being medically fit for discharge at the beginning of December, according to NHS Providers. These hospitals are effectively providing a social care service – and losing vital capacity in the process.
