Six innovative NHS control centres, which aim to ease pressures in healthcare this winter, are now live across the east of England.

The care control centres were just one of the measures announced as part of NHS winter planning in October alongside falls response teams, new hubs dedicated to serious respiratory infections and additional bed capacity.

Each of the six integrated care systems in the east of England now have a dedicated operation where teams can track data in real time to help them make quick decisions in the face of emerging challenges.

Control centre staff will monitor a range of live data including A&E performance and waiting times, staff sickness rates, ambulance response times and bed occupancy.

For example, data will be used to see where hospitals can benefit from mutual aid, or if ambulances can be diverted to another nearby hospital with more beds.

Recent statistics show around 19 in 20 adult general and acute beds in the east of England were occupied in the week to 20 November, with more than 1,000 beds a day taken up by patients medically fit for discharge.

Dr Melanie Iles, acting medical director for the NHS in the east of England, said: 

“From dedicated falls teams which prevent hospital admissions to virtual wards whereby patients can be expertly cared for in the comfort of their own home, initiatives are being rolled out across our region to help ease pressures over winter.”

“These data-driven centres are now helping us monitor pressures and manage resource across the east of England, with NHS staff working around the clock, from Cromer to Watford, to make the best possible decisions for both staff and patients.

“With the NHS facing a potential ‘twindemic’ with Covid and flu cases this winter, on top of the expected winter pressures, it has never been more important for the NHS to introduce these important and innovative planning measures ahead of what is likely to be one of our most challenging winters yet.”