THE Royal Bolton Hospital is launching a review to make sure it is better prepared for winter pressures.

More trips and falls in icy weather, outbreaks of winter vomiting bugs and flu have all heaped more pressure on hospital staff in the winter months.

Earlier this year, the hospital was forced to close several wards due to an outbreak of the norovirus.

Now the trust’s chief executive has outlined plans to improve services during the busiest time of the year.

David Fillingham told the trust council of governors that a review will take place this summer to ensure the hospital is ready for winter.

He said: “Bolton is just about the busiest hospital in Greater Manchester for emergencies. In summer we respond well but in winter traditionally the Royal Bolton Hospital has struggled to deliver its usual standards of service.

“Last winter was very difficult, the cold snap lasted a long time, there were respiratory viruses, there was a lot more flu and we were hit by norovirus.

“We struggled to provide the quality of care we would have wished. A major review will take place over the summer months because going into next winter we want to raise our game, no matter what is thrown at us.”

Lesley Doherty, director of nursing at the hospital, is leading a team to look at how improvements can be made, such as changes to the design of the accident and emergency department, how patients are assessed, moving to a ward and the discharge process.

The focus will be on discharging patients and the layout of the A and E department, which was built for 65,000 patients a year but sees 108,000 people.

The hospital says plans for an urgent care centre in the town centre will also relieve some of the pressure on the department. Staff will also liaise with other medical bodies, for example, NHS Bolton about its winter work.

Mr Fillingham said: “It is important we do the work over the summer so that when we get to winter we have a high level of confidence to cope with the demand better.”

The announcement comes just a day after it was revealed the hospital is undertaking a review to scrap mixed sex wards.