Britain is trying to ease pressure on its health services ahead of a winter that will bring extraordinary strain to households as energy bills soar.
The National Health Service has instructed hospitals to prepare a public awareness campaign calling for people to seek help only in a genuine emergency, the Telegraph reported, citing a letter from officials. Such an instruction has never been issued so early in the year, the newspaper said.
“We have begun planning for the coming winter earlier than usual, recognizing pressure on the NHS is likely to be substantial, particularly in urgent and emergency care,” said the letter from Amanda Pritchard, the chief executive of NHS England, and fellow officials, citied by the Telegraph.
