Funding for winter clinics axed despite NHSE backing

Community clinics credited with easing pressure on A&E and GP practices nationally last winter have not yet been funded for this year, and many may not be able to open, HSJ has learned.

Several local and regional sources said they were concerned no funding had been announced for acute respiratory hubs, despite respiratory illness already starting to rise.

Last year national funding was announced in December and – despite the late notice – NHS England collected evidence showing that, once they were opened, ARI hubs reduced acute respiratory infection attendances by up to two-thirds, and released GP appointments.

The hubs, normally held at community clinics, offer urgent same-day appointments for those with suspected ARI problems to patients referred in by other services.

David Bramley, deputy director in NHSE’s NHS@Home team, said on a webinar on Tuesday: “This year, perhaps unsurprisingly, we are seeing ARI rates beginning to climb… but we’re also not expecting any additional funding for ARI hubs this year.”

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Source: HSJ, 10 November 2023