The shorter days and cooler weather remind us that winter will soon be here.  We all remember last winter and while we are in a much better place this year, there is some uncertainty.  Health issues are always more frequent in the winter and it is the most demanding time of year for our NHS.  Last winter was exceptional because of Covid-19 but the lockdown from January did mean there wasn’t a flu season or many other winter bugs.

This year will be under much more normal conditions, but the absence of a flu season last winter means there is a greater risk of a severe flu season this year.  Added to Covid-19, this has increased the risk of unprecedented demand and pressures on the NHS this winter.

The Conservative government has recognised this early on and has pulled out all the stops to help ensure that the NHS has the resources it needs to address these pressures, as well as providing all the usual treatments it gives.

The successful Covid-19 vaccine rollout puts us in the best possible place when combined with the unprecedented additional resources being put into the NHS.  Additionally, the Adult Social Care Winter Plan is providing good support to adult social care settings, with a particular focus on limiting Covid-19 outbreaks.

No one wants to be unwell and as well as thinking about our own health this winter, we can help others by taking preventative measures that helps not only ourselves but help ensure there is capacity for others who do need health care.  At the weekend we passed 10 million Covid-19 booster jabs given, but we still need everyone eligible to come forward.

Doing this and getting a flu jab is the best thing we can do to protect our NHS, as well as exercising sensible caution to reduce the risk of infection.  It’s no effort to wear a mask in busy public indoor settings and I will continue to do so throughout the winter.  Getting our jabs and mask wearing will help ensure everyday life will be much better this winter than last.     

Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group

10th November 2021