Every winter, the NHS faces immense pressure, with poor standards of care becoming an expected part of the "winter crisis."

The Patients Association has joined with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the College of Paramedics, the National Association of Primary Care, and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives to propose practical solutions for meaningful, long-term improvement.

Our joint statement identifies four core issues at the heart of the crisis: limited capacity in primary care, insufficient proactive care for high-risk patients, fragmentation in urgent and emergency services, and congestion in emergency departments. We outline achievable reforms, from increasing GP capacity and supporting community-based care to integrating services and addressing hospital bottlenecks.

At the Patients Association, we are committed to advocating for patients to receive the care they need, when they need it, and ensuring that next winter—and every winter after—offers better outcomes for both patients and staff.

Download the full statement