NHS trusts are increasing number of beds in nursing homes, reopen disused wards and build new ones to battle its toughest ever winter. Also, they are looking forward to recruit more number of nurses from abroad to tackle staff shortages. This is because of fears that impact of flu, norovirus and bad weather will bring the hospitals under immense pressure.

Dame Barbara Hakin is the NHS's deputy chief executive. He said the health service has been trying its level best to tackle the crisis. During the next months, several thousand more beds will be included in nursing homes and GPs will be offering appointments. Ambulance service will also be strengthened by increasing its staff.

The growing concern of handling the winter crisis forced government, the leadership of the NHS and hospital bosses to take such preventive measures.

Cheltenham general hospital and Gloucester Royal hospital are hiring some of its extra 35 nurses from Portugal. Also, there are plans to open two extra medical wards at Gloucester Royal.

"In the middle of winter we can see an extra ward of patients coming in on any day", said Frank Harsent, its chief executive. These measures will be certainly helpful to avoid a rerun of last year's difficult winter.