Michael Whitcombe (Deputy Chief Operating Officer, University Hospitals Plymouth), Amanda Nash (Head of Communications, University Hospitals Plymouth), Gary Walbridge (Strategic Director for Adults, Health and Communities) and Louise Ford (Service Director for Integrated Commissioning) presented the Winter Pressures Update and discussed:

a)     Winter planning had remained challenging, with the One Plan objective of reducing the number of patients with No Criteria to Reside (NCTR) only partially achieved. Approximately 50% of the intended improvement had been delivered;

b)    University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) had operated under escalation, with a net loss of 54 beds from the beginning of October due to NCTR?related pressures, compared with an anticipated loss of 8 beds after mitigations. The position had stabilised at around 40 beds lost in December and January;

c)     Ambulance handover delays had shown significant improvement, with 2,000 hours lost in December 2025, compared to 6,344 hours lost in December the previous year. Although performance remained below desired levels, meaningful progress had been made, resulting from joint acute and community system working;

d)    The four?hour emergency department standard had deteriorated more than anticipated against the planned recovery trajectory, with actions underway to improve patient flow and movement through pathways;

e)     Vaccination uptake among staff had improved, with UHP exceeding the 5% increase expected across Devon. Particular success was attributed to peer vaccinators and targeted internal communications, with a further rise in uptake immediately before Christmas in response to rising flu cases;

f)      Infection?prevention benefits were evident, with flu and RSV impacts being more controlled and less severe than in the previous winter due to preventative measures and vaccinations;

g)     The winter communications campaign had included a major public awareness initiative for the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), which had involved social media, radio, Spotify advertising and physical banners;

h)    Since the start of the campaign, Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) attendances had risen significantly, with 11 January 2026 recording the highest number of UTC attendances to date. The campaign had helped reduce emergency?department redirects by encouraging patients with minor illness and injury to present directly to the UTC;

i)      Members of the Panel had visited the UTC in November 2025, and positive feedback had been received, with several councillors independently promoting the service following their visit;

j)      The presenters emphasised the importance of ensuring the public understood when and how to use the UTC as a safe alternative to the Emergency Department, which supported improved flow through the hospital;

k)     UHP highlighted positive results from out?of?hospital services showcased during the BBC NHS Day, including the X?ray car, which had supported over 400 patients, with over 95% avoiding hospital conveyance as a result;

l)      Admission?avoidance services remained a priority, with national policy continuing to promote home?based care. Patients typically recovered better in their own environments and were less exposed to infection during winter;

m)   Livewell Southwest continued to develop the community virtual ward, with 55 people on the caseload out of a capacity of 95, alongside the acute virtual ward. Onboarding processes were being strengthened, including reviewing patients 48 hours before predicted discharge;

n)    Winter?system working between Plymouth City Council, NHS Devon, Livewell Southwest and UHP continued daily, with escalation calls and multi?agency oversight used to manage complex discharges and maintain safe system flow;

o)    Capacity in care?home and domiciliary?care markets had remained stable so far during winter, with no significant shortages reported;

p)    Norovirus and flu remained active across the system, with norovirus levels 47% higher in the first two weeks of the year compared to the same period the previous year; however, strong infection?control practice and PPE use in care?home settings had helped prevent major outbreaks locally;

q)    The presenters reiterated public?health messages encouraging people who were unwell to stay away from vulnerable settings and maintain good hygiene;

r)     A more detailed winter review would be brought to a future Panel meeting once the season had concluded.

In response to questions, the Panel discussed:

s)     Members queried the increase in staff vaccination uptake and were informed that targeted communications, peer vaccinators and pre?Christmas risk awareness had driven strong engagement;

t)     Members sought clarification on RSV vaccination figures. UHP confirmed the data shown related to staff uptake within the Trust, not community?wide population uptake;

u)    Members raised public perceptions arising from national NHS coverage and asked about the importance of highlighting out?of?hospital care models. Presenters reiterated that alternatives such as the UTC, X?ray car, virtual wards and lung?screening services were critical in demand management and helped ensure care was provided in the right setting;

v)     Members welcomed the evidence of same?day emergency care and virtual?ward performance;

w)   Members shared positive personal experiences of virtual?ward provision and asked whether expansion was planned. UHP confirmed further development would be supported alongside the new electronic patient?record system launching in July;

x)    Members requested a future session on the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) rollout (Epic), including implications for Adult Social Care and system partners;

y)     Questions were raised regarding norovirus prevalence and whether additional proactive measures beyond PPE and hygiene were feasible. It was advised that eradication was not possible, and public?health messaging remained the best mitigation.

The Panel agreed:

1. To note the Winter Pressures Update;

2. To request that an item on the introduction of the Electronic Patient Record (Epic) was brought to the Panel prior to its launch in July 2026.