Snow adds to NHS winter pressures #Snow #UK #London #NHS #Winters

Snow adds to NHS winter pressures.

The snow is adding to the winter pressures on the NHS, causing staff shortages, record calls to ambulance services and dwindling blood supplies.

The Royal College of Nursing said while winter planning had improved, this would be a testing time for the NHS.
Some ambulance services are urging people to only call 999 for life threatening emergencies, and to avoid venturing out in cars.
Meanwhile, the NHS is appealing for people to donate blood.
The Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, said the NHS needed 7,000 units of blood each day, regardless of the weather.
Speaking at a visit to a blood donor centre in London, Mr Lansley, said: "The recent bad weather has made it difficult for staff and donors to attend sessions and give blood and this has had an impact on the availability of some blood types.
"I would like to encourage anyone who is able to, to visit a centre like this one in central London and give blood as soon as they can so the NHS can continue to carry out the procedures that require blood every day."