It comes as energy regulator Ofgem is set to raise the cap on energy prices from October, leading household bills to soar.
It said local leaders are already taking measures to help struggling staff, including setting up food banks, providing salary advances and supplying free school uniform for their children. “It’s our duty to flag the fact that it looked as though we could be heading for additional demand on a system which is already, even in the middle of August, finding it very difficult to meet demand, and facing an extremely difficult winter.”
He added that the NHS Confederation is speaking on behalf of hundreds of health leaders across the UK. “We anticipate some will even struggle to keep their homes in the year ahead, such is the affordability crisis.