The Guardian view on the NHS winter crisis: not such a happy birthday | Editorial

The health service goes into its 71st year facing bigger challenges than ever. Ministers cannot pretend they are not responsible

For the NHS in England, 2018 has begun much as it is likely to go on. This year is the 70th anniversary of Britain’s most treasured institution. But it is eight years into a funding regime that has failed year after year to match the inexorable growth in demand. It operates on the very edge of viability. Any system-wide increase in need tips it over the edge.

The contours of the winter crisis are familiar: the Christmas and New Year shut-down of supporting services – the GPs, community health workers and social services who help to keep people at home – coinciding with winter flu and cold weather always puts the NHS under pressure. Even in Scotland, where slightly higher funding per patient and much closer coordination between hospital and social care reduces problems such as bed-blocking, there are nightmare stories about long waits on trolleys and a service that shows painful signs of stress. Yet while the wretched experience of a system running off the rails is familiar, there is also something unusual going on here.

Continue reading... January 04, 2018 at 12:22AM