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The slogan “winter is coming”, so famously coined by iconic politico-fantasy series _Game of Thrones_, could have been an advertisement for the state of the NHS in the run-up to the past few
weeks. For those three ominous words must strike fear into the heart of every leader, clinician and member of frontline staff struggling to keep things together throughout the colder
months. The arteries of every hospital, GP surgery and care home are clogged up thanks to almost constant pressure, with demand outstripping supply every “normal” day of the year. It used to
be that winter ushered in a host of cold spell ailments – flu, norovirus, trips and falls – that caused a spike in demand. But these days the NHS – and the wider social care system – is
already running at or near full capacity before we even start getting out the holly and the ivy. It is now time to call it as it really is – this is a permanently broken NHS that needs a
long-term fix. The NHS Winter Crisis special section on the _Nursing Times website_ lays bare the facts of the matter. No one in the NHS is coping admirably, patient safety is at risk and it
is time for the politicians to put aside their point-scoring differences if they really care about saving lives – and saving the health service they all claim to hold so dear. Our winter
crisis pages include news and views on key topics including flu, why the NHS is in such a state, and how poor the conditions are to work in right now. One piece, penned by Janice Sigsworth,
the chief nurse of Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust, has really caught nurses’ attention online and on social media. In her article specially written for our NHS Winter Crisis coverage, Ms
Sigsworth reveals the difficulties her staff are facing at their five hospitals across the capital. She recounts that they received over double the number of ambulance visits in a typical
day on New Year’s Day (notching up 130), and that it is only the goodwill of staff that is keeping services going. Providing post-operative care to critical patients and supporting patients
in high-dependency units with respiratory conditions are real challenges, she states. It is not a situation unique to London, of course. All over the country, hospitals are struggling to
find beds and admit patients. Ms Sigsworth candidly reveals how her staff are devising innovative ways of assessing, diagnosing and working to avoid admissions where possible. But she also
records the heartbreak of having to defer operations and then breaking this news to distressed families. It should not be the job of nurses and doctors to have to deal with such difficulties
– the politicians should be the ones facing up to (and “fessing” up to) the mess they have caused by failing to adequately fund and plan for a situation that everyone knew was coming. As Ms
Sigsworth says, with people living longer and with more health conditions that require care, coupled with a workforce in crisis, this situation will only get worse and worse each year. The
time for action is now. I won’t lie, Ms Sigsworth is something of a hero at _Nursing Times_. She says it like it is. She gets things done and she does the right thing for her patients. She
is not a moaner, a whinger and she is not afflicted by a “can’t do” attitude. When she tells people that a “more radical review is needed”, you really know it is. So, politicians, if you
really want the NHS to survive, it is time to put aside your differences, and make a cross-party pledge to support and fund this health service properly. This is not about vote winning
anymore. It is about protecting arguably the one institution the public – and the people who work in it – care more about than any other. Clinicians are acting with courage, and choosing a
different way of working to keep services running this winter. Are politicians brave enough to do the same?