An "X-ray car" is being tested out by healthcare professionals this winter in a bid to prevent elderly residents going to hospital if they don't need to.

The vehicle, which contains an X-ray machine and radiographer, will be able to travel to patients who have suffered a fall and will be on the road from December 1 as part of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board's Winter Plan.

Health services began preparing for the latest winter season several months ago to address expected increases in demand for services. And board members were given an update on this year's winter plan at their meeting on Thursday (November 20).

Hayley Allison, portfolio director for delivery and improvement at the Integrated Care Board (ICB) also gave further details about the X-ray car at this month's Staffordshire County Council Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.

She said: "Fallers are a real challenge for us as a system – if a patient falls and they're elderly and there's a query around whether there's a fracture, they will be conveyed to hospital.

"It's not necessarily always the right thing for that patient. So we are going to be testing an X-ray machine in a car with a radiographer.

"That was something Portsmouth did and it was really successful, so we're testing it. It's partially being funded through some charitable funds from UHNM as well in terms of the equipment side of things.

"If it's a real success and it prevents patients going into hospital – even in small numbers – it's really beneficial. If patients don't need to be in hospital then they shouldn't be there."

Councillors were told that recent weeks had already been "incredibly pressured" for acute health services in the area.

The opening of additional capacity at Royal Stoke University Hospital and Stafford's County Hospital has been brought forward.

The winter plan update presented to Thursday's ICB meeting said: "The system has seen pressures across UEC (urgent and emergency care) pathways during October and into November.

"These are primary driven by increased attendances, early arrival of respiratory viruses compared to previous years, and workforce challenges driven by an increase in short term sickness.

"Activity growth in October 2025 has seen 8.92% growth when compared to October 2024, with a rolling three-month increase of 9.22%. During the month the system has seen the highest attendances reported across the UHNM (University Hospitals of North Midlands) footprint ever recorded.

"This is being seen across emergency departments, walk in centres and minor injury units, superseding the previous highest day within October last year. Throughout late September and October, the ICS (Integrated Care System) has experienced increased pressure related respiratory illnesses including Flu A, Flu B and COVID-19.

"SSOT (Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent) is not unique in this pattern, with similar demand increases being seen across both the region and wider NHS nationally.

"Current UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) reporting is showing the impact is in line with 24/25 volume levels, but is being experienced circa four weeks ahead of the previous year.

"Providers have experienced significant staffing challenges due to short term absence; this has been further impacted by lower than anticipated uptake of bank shifts.

"The situation is being closely monitored by workforce leads across the system and mitigatory actions are being taken including the deployment of mutual aid, targeted enhanced bank rates and agency usage.

"Winter recruitment continues to progress with provider recruitment events taking place throughout November. This will reduce the need for ongoing agency deployment.

The X-ray car is one of the "mitigatory actions" being put in place to reduce pressures on health services during winter.

Other measures include increasing the number of beds available in unplanned care at Royal Stoke Hospital, extra "surge beds" at Stafford's County Hospital and 10 more discharge to assess beds opened ahead of plan at Haywood Hospital in Burslem.