Responding to a Royal College of Emergency Medicine survey of clinical leads, which found that 90% were either 'very' or 'extremely' concerned about the pressure their emergency department will experience this winter and just 3% said they were 'well prepared' for the cold months, BMA consultants committee emergency medicine lead Dr Den Langhor said:

“This warning from clinical leads echoes the fears of emergency medicine doctors working across the country as we head into winter.

“Having only just managed the busiest summer on record in emergency departments, we have not yet had time to take a moment to breathe before we face the onslaught of what we expect to be another horrific winter on the frontline. These pressures are no longer seasonal – they are continuous.

“With the College only recently estimating that more than 500 people are dying a week due to overcrowding, the very real impact of corridor and carpark care cannot be underestimated. The Health Secretary said this weekend that it’s her priority to end corridor care for children, but what about for everyone else?

“Thankfully, we’re already able to prioritise children in emergency departments, so that instances where they’re being seen in inappropriate spaces are incredibly rare, but sadly the same cannot be said about other groups of incredibly unwell patients, including the elderly.

“The winter funding for emergency departments, also announced at the weekend, is welcome, but does not replace the need for long-term, sustained investment that undoes the systemic underfunding and understaffing of the health service we’ve seen across so many years.

“Only then will we overcome the year-round pressures that continue to mount on the health service that drive staff to burnout and put patients at risk.”

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Notes to editors

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.