NHS chief: Winter will be an 'issue' for A&E Fears are growing about the sheer pressure of increasing patient numbers on the National Health Service, which could cause problems in accident and emergency departments this winter. Last week a National Audit Office (NAO) report said there were too many emergency admissions to hospitals in England, and the College of Emergency Medicine is warning a shortage of emergency doctors has the potential to put patients at risk. Speaking to the Today programme, Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England's medical director, said: "I don't think we understand all the reasons why the winter made A&E busier than other seasons." He said: "One of the things we'll be considering in our strategy is that we need a better offer outside hospitals. What we're really seeing is although this is manifest in A&E, this a problem with the whole system. Winter is going to be a particular issue," he added.