UNPRECEDENTED pressures faced by the NHS have pushed staff to their limits and generated furious political debate.
On Friday night Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock visited frontline staff at Furness General Hospital, spending several hours there to witness first hand the strain they were under.
Doctors, nurses, paramedics, as well as the clerical staff, cleaners and support staff at the hospital have all experienced tough times this winter.
During his visit Mr Woodcock found a group of professionals who continue to do their jobs in spite of growing stress placed on them by a shortage of beds and an ageing population.
At 9pm there were fewer than a dozen patients sitting in the waiting room of the A&E department at FGH.
This, however, would not last as staff awaited the usual alcohol-related Friday night rush.
Dr Ashish Chatterjee, emergency department clinical lead, said: "This is reasonable, but today the problem is that we don't have any beds. We can anticipate it getting worse."
Dr Chatterjee, who has worked in Barrow for 17 years, didn't think the problem of a lack of beds was localised just to Barrow, but rather it was an issue seen across the country - "in every A&E we go to."
Mr Woodcock's decision to visit FGH was prompted by the news that hospitals across the country were struggling to cope.
Two weeks ago 20 hospitals declared black alerts and issued warnings that patient safety could not be guaranteed.
Mr Woodcock said: "Like most people I have a huge amount of respect for the medical work that doctors and nurses do in A&E.
"Spending those hours in the department showed me that they have equally large logistical changes to make, to make sure they can function when under strain."
When speaking with doctors it was found that one of their biggest pressures is a simple lack of space.
On the A&E ward there are 13 beds available but problems arise if there are no ward beds to move patients to once their A&E treatment is over.
Staff spoke of one day during the festive period where there were eight patients waiting in an ambulance queue for close to three hours due to there being no beds in A&E.
Dr Chatterjee estimated the hospital had around 30 patients on wards which could be discharged if there were places outside the hospital they could be discharged to.
This imbalance is in part due to the change in what sort of treatment people need. As our population continues to live longer, they require more complex care, and when their health deteriorates, invariably they end up in A&E.
Dr Chatterjee said: "If you treat people at home early, they will not deteriorate to the point where they need to come to hospital."
Staff at the hospital did point out that morale was still high in spite of the added pressure, and every nursing position in A&E has been filled.
Mr Woodcock believes the time he spent in FGH was incredibly valuable.
He said: "It was useful to talk about the changes that have to be made in the NHS to ensure that the whole system can be fit for purpose.
"It's brought it home for me, it's not about saving money for hospitals, it's about letting them operate without being overwhelmed."
Changes are taking place at FGH to better equip them for the future. In the coming months two extra beds will be added to the A&E department.
A minor injuries unit will also be opened in the hospital, helping divert patients to ensure A&E only handles emergencies.
Dr Chatterjee said: "We get patients who should not be here, but I don't think it's that huge a number."
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