More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of doctors believe that the NHS is less prepared to cope with winter pressures this year than the previous three years, according to a new survey by the British Medical Association (BMA).

The survey found that a lack of beds, delayed discharges and the general demand for primary care services were perceived to pose the greatest challenges over the winter period. The majority of doctors surveyed also said that a higher personal workload during the winter months hampered their ability to provide high quality patient care.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Mark Porter, BMA chair of council, said: “These figures are cause for serious concern as while there is an ever increasing demand for health services across the NHS, this is hugely exacerbated during the winter months. Demand is now so great that hospitals are experiencing a year round crisis, with a lack of available beds preventing the system from coping with a seasonal spike in demand.”

Dr Porter also highlighted the lack of investment and resource in social care as having an impact on the provision of healthcare, especially in winter, and raised concern over the “congested” healthcare system. “Front-line staff are working flat-out but the system can’t cope with the number of patients needing to move through acute care,” he said, before adding that it's “vital that there is sufficient capacity across the entire health and social care system, including in accident and emergency departments, general practice and social and community care.”