House of Commons · Urgent Question
15 December 2025 · 31 other contributors
Opened by Stuart Andrew Con Daventry
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Stuart Andrew raised concerns about nhs winter preparedness 2025-12-15 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Will the Secretary of State make a statement on winter preparedness in the NHS, given that a serious flu wave and rising respiratory syncytial virus infections are pushing the health service to its limits with increased hospital admissions and staffing pressures?
Question
Will the Secretary of State meet with the all-party parliamentary group on emergency care to discuss their report's recommendations for ending corridor care?
Minister reply
The hon. Member is thanked for her frontline work and I would be happy to discuss the report with her and her team.
Question
Will the Prime Minister chair regular Cobra meetings to address this emergency, and will the Government support calls for a dedicated winter crisis unit providing locum doctors and social care support?
Minister reply
While I appreciate the hon. Lady's concerns, asking the Prime Minister to chair Cobra meetings would not be appropriate. However, we do meet regularly to discuss winter pressures. We are taking measures to address delayed discharges and demand management.
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that it is reckless for the BMA to take its members out on strike given the current flu levels, and will he call for resident doctors in Gloucester to go to work next week?
Minister reply
The hon. Member is correct that the strikes present significant challenges. We have made appeals to resident doctors to ignore the BMA's strike mandate and continue working during this critical period.
Question
Does my right hon. Friend think it's time to ask the JCVI to look again at vaccine recommendations given flu and RSV pressures, specifically on infant vs maternal RSV vaccination models?
Minister reply
We will reflect on performance after this winter as we did last year. The JCVI’s expert advice is relied upon for eligibility and timing decisions; it will review data from this winter to make future recommendations.
Question
Does the Secretary of State accept some responsibility for current strikes, given last year's bumper pay deal to junior doctors with no strings attached?
Minister reply
Regardless of today’s result, I am not a soft touch and will not accede to unreasonable demands. Last year’s pay award was necessary due to past unfair treatment; we are addressing issues within the NHS as best we can.
Question
Can the Secretary of State correct the gap in vaccine eligibility for 16 and 17-year-olds to protect families during the festive season?
Minister reply
We will review eligibility, distribution, and access as usual. People should enjoy Christmas but be mindful of flu risks; those symptomatic may want to delay visiting until recovered.
Question
Will the Secretary of State reflect on his emphasis on community care at this time given A&E departments are still under pressure?
Minister reply
A&E is for accidents and emergencies, not an 'anything and everything' service. NHS 111 provides suitable triage services to direct patients appropriately.
Question
Can the Secretary of State assure that the Eastham walk-in centre closure is temporary given real pressures on NHS staff?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend can rest assured it's temporary, shared desire to maintain this status.
Question
Will the Health Secretary ensure clarity on face mask mandates based on evidence?
Minister reply
Supporting leaders to make judgments based on local trust situations; not mandating masks but encouraging compliance when asked.
Question
My constituent Fred has had his flu vaccination appointment cancelled three times due to a lack of vaccines locally. What emergency measures are the Government taking to get additional vaccines to rural and coastal areas like mine?
Minister reply
There is no shortage of vaccines, but they may not be available at the right time or place. We will look into supplies in her constituency and work with local providers to resolve this situation.
Question
Could he set out the process of engagement, not least with ACAS? Could ACAS sit down with the BMA to enhance or tweak proposals so that we achieve a resolution for patients and abate forthcoming strikes?
Minister reply
We have met the BMA personally and spoken with them on the telephone. We are willing to bring in people who can help close gaps, but our first priority now is managing through this period and recovering into the new year.
Question
Does the Health Secretary agree that we should use this opportunity to reassert societal trust in vaccines? Given his comment about there being little more for the Government to offer, does he acknowledge the unconditional inflation-busting offer last year?
Minister reply
It is always good to hear voices making the case for vaccine uptake. The previous Conservative government's approach contrasts starkly with Reform UK’s anti-science nonsense.
Question
The south-west has seen a 93% increase in flu patients occupying beds compared to last year. Does the Secretary of State agree that it is dangerous and reckless for doctors to go on strike at this time? What would he say to all staff at Derriford, who will have to take up frontline work as we approach Christmas?
Minister reply
Firstly, I thank staff at Derriford hospital. We reflect on how we plan for next winter and address challenges in urgent and emergency care.
Question
This afternoon, I am hearing of resident doctors who are not BMA members and who plan to go to work but are being pressured or bullied by the BMA. Does the Secretary of State join me in absolutely condemning this pressure?
Minister reply
No member of staff should be bullied for going to work. Resident doctors have been at work during previous strikes, and I hope they will do so again.
Question
How does the Government ensure that GP practices’ self-reported access times—four in five people can see a GP within two weeks—are accurate?
Minister reply
Accurate reporting is central both from an ethics and integrity perspective, and because it helps to inform us about the state of service. I am happy to look at this situation with the integrated care board.
Question
If any junior doctor decides on ethical grounds to go into work during strikes and faces sanctions from the BMA, will the Government protect them?
Minister reply
We will certainly give serious consideration to points raised. Resident doctors have been to work in previous rounds of strikes, and if bullying occurs, my priority is protecting doctors who make moral and ethical judgments.
Question
Families can support the NHS by taking up a vaccine but what more can they do to support it?
Minister reply
Families can take up vaccines, and we are working flat-out to support the NHS.
Question
At a Hanukkah event, I spoke with a medical undergraduate who supports the Government's commitment to halving competition. Many medical professionals struggle to find employment. How would this offer and other government initiatives help these individuals?
Minister reply
We proposed increasing specialty places and bringing forward emergency legislation for UK prioritisation. This would reduce the competition ratio from 4:1 to less than 2:1, improving conditions and opportunities for medical professionals.
Question
In South Shropshire's rural areas, there is concern about healthcare provision during strikes. How will the Government ensure adequate services are available in these remote locations?
Minister reply
We have placed emphasis on rural services and coastal communities in our 10-year health plan, aiming for consistent year-on-year improvement in urgent and emergency care across all regions.
Question
Will the Secretary of State join me in thanking staff at Milton Keynes hospital for their hard work during this challenging period?
Minister reply
I thank NHS staff for their ongoing efforts and will visit Milton Keynes hospital to express gratitude for their dedication, especially given the pressures they face.
Question
Over 34,000 Dorset residents over age 80 are excluded from RSV vaccines. Cases are increasing; will the Secretary of State review JCVI’s decision to exclude them from vaccination?
Minister reply
We follow expert advice from the JCVI and they will normally review decisions after assessing how this winter has gone, but it is important that we remain guided by evidence.
Question
The BMA's actions risk significant harm to NHS patients during the Christmas period. Will the Secretary of State appeal to resident doctors to resume work and look after his constituents?
Minister reply
I ask resident doctors to consider the pressures on the NHS, their colleagues' well-being, and most importantly, patient safety when deciding whether to go to work.
Question
Coroners have warned of unsafe conditions at Royal Blackburn hospital. With over 3,000 patients per GP and rising winter admissions, what targeted support will be provided for staffing, bed capacity, and primary care access in areas like Blackburn?
Minister reply
We have increased funding for general practice by £1.1 billion, deployed more GPs to the frontline, and restored a deprivation link to health funding to address needs in poorer communities.
Question
Leaders from Darent Valley Hospital expressed concerns about rising flu admissions impacting A&E waiting times. How can the public assist the NHS during this period?
Minister reply
People should get vaccinations, use non-emergency services such as 111, visit websites, or use the NHS app if they need health services but it is not an accident or emergency.
Question
I put on record my thanks to the staff at Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow for their work to support residents in my constituency not just at Christmas but all year round. Clearly, the BMA’s decision to take strike action over Christmas is hugely disappointing. As a former teacher, I remember that if we took industrial action, we always tried to avoid taking it over exam season, for similar reasons. Will the Secretary of State reiterate his point about the deal he put forward to the BMA? In particular, reducing the number of applicants per job is hugely important and should be welcomed by resident doctors, or potential resident doctors.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Responsible trade unions think about the wider workforce and the impact on service users, whether they are children or other users of public services. Crucially, for most trade unions in this country strike action is a last resort. It is astonishing that the BMA chose to go on strike after a 28.9% pay rise, well ahead of the Government making any decisions on future years’ pay and with the Government willing to discuss future years’ pay with the BMA.
Question
Next week, families such as mine will be coming together across the generations to celebrate Christmas, and there will be a mix of people who have been vaccinated and those who have not, whether by choice or by default. Teenagers and young adults are struggling to access vaccinations, and they cannot walk into a pharmacy like an adult can. Is the Secretary of State content that everything is being done to ensure that if families want to get their young people vaccinated, they will be vaccinated in time for Christmas?
Minister reply
Yes. The JCVI makes evidence-based recommendations, and we follow its evidence. With the best will in the world, we of course give out practical, common-sense advice, but we should not infantilise our constituents. They are perfectly capable of working out who can get together this Christmas.
Question
I commend the Secretary of State for his action to try to prevent industrial action. Nye Bevan had his own challenges with the BMA. The covid inquiry made a number of recommendations with regard to co-ordination and preparedness across all four nations. What interaction has the Secretary of State had with the devolved nations in respect of this wave of flu, RSV and access to vaccinations?
Minister reply
I speak regularly with my counterparts, and the Ministers who are either side of me this afternoon have been engaging with our counterparts in recent weeks on these issues. We have a good relationship with devolved Administrations, regardless of party or where they sit across the United Kingdom.
Question
Vaccination rates among the over-65s are not where we would like them to be, so will the Secretary of State adopt an emergency vaccination scheme in village halls, supermarkets and—if needed—jab vans to get to the people who have been missed?
Minister reply
There are many examples of great community-based vaccination initiatives. Many of those initiatives are supported by faith-based organisations, which is really important given the vaccine hesitancy in some of those groups. I do not believe that people are hard to reach; I believe that public services often do not try hard enough.
Question
I thank the Secretary of State very much for his answers—the BMA is losing public support, and clearly the Secretary of State is gaining it. I wish him well in his role. Official figures show that flu cases in Northern Ireland nearly doubled to 954 in recent weeks, and flu-related admissions also doubled, with hundreds being treated in hospitals. There are issues with the supply of the flu vaccine, to the extent that people are unable to get their jabs in pharmacies and GPs are only offering them to select groups. I know that the Secretary of State is in regular contact with the Minister in Northern Ireland, Mike Nesbitt. What discussions have taken place to increase the supply of the flu vaccine and ensure it is accessible to those who need it?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. Given that politicians are somewhere below traffic wardens and estate agents in terms of public popularity at the moment, it is quite an achievement for the BMA to have found itself even less popular with the public.
Question
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. During the urgent question, the Health Secretary suggested that Reform UK were vaccine sceptics—that is not the case. I have had all my vaccines since being born, and I will continue to have vaccinations, including the flu jab. Is there anything you can do to encourage the Health Secretary to be a little bit more accurate with the facts?
Minister reply
Further to that point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I just wanted to welcome the hon. Gentleman’s endorsement of vaccination. It is by far the most sensible thing he has ever said—that is a low bar, but he has cleared it, and I am very grateful to him.
Government Response
The NHS is facing unprecedented levels of flu, which has led to a significant increase in patient admissions and staff absences. The Government have taken proactive measures including expanding the flu vaccination programme, investing in additional ambulances, same-day emergency care centres, and mental health crisis assessment centres. We are also recalling resident doctors to work during emergencies and stress-testing winter plans across NHS trusts to ensure preparedness.