CIRENCESTER Hospital will be open for “business as usual” this winter despite the latest figures that predict hospitals up and down the country are struggling to cope.

The survey, carried out by health and social care firm Capsticks, reports that 80 per cent of hospital chiefs said that this winter will be worse than last year’s in terms of widespread breaches of waiting time targets.

The data also shows that since the beginning of October, national accident and emergency performance across the country has fallen compared to the same time last year.

Hospitals are put under increasing pressure during the winter season with many more people contracting illnesses and having accidents due to the adverse weather conditions.

Jane Evans, matron for Cirencester Hospital, said: “During the winter months frail, vulnerable and older people are more at risk and may bring additional pressures on hospital services.

“Our teams are very experiences and flexible and those staff living locally are incredibly supportive in providing extra cover where their colleagues may be unable to reach the hospital.

“Our approach to winter pressures is really business as usual and Cirencester Hospital is no exception to our other community hospitals across the county whereby we work with local GPs, our community based health and social care services and other urgent care services including the Minor Injuries Units within our community hospitals.”

For more information on the services available at Cirencester Hospital, visit www.glos-care.nhs.uk and search for Cirencester Hospital.