Winter is always the most difficult time of the year for the NHS as hospitals struggle to cope with extra patients, especially the elderly, affected by flu and chest infections. But this year there may be strikes – possibly starting as early as Tuesday - by junior doctors too, protesting against new contracts. So what state are the hospitals in and how is the morale of both patients and staff? We asked people with a bird’s-eye view: hospital chaplains PLYMOUTH Simon Fletcher In December 2014, Derriford Hospital started a long period in which the demand for patients to be admitted caused the hospital to go into its highest level of operational readiness, “black alert”. At one point in January 2015, there were more than 100 patients requiring medical attention,