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| NHS figures show sharp rise in patients waiting for A&E care | NHS figures show sharp rise in patients waiting for A&E care |
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| Growing numbers of patients taken to hospital by ambulance are having to wait an hour or more before they are handed over to A&E staff for treatment, NHS England figures show. | Growing numbers of patients taken to hospital by ambulance are having to wait an hour or more before they are handed over to A&E staff for treatment, NHS England figures show. |
| In the week to last Sunday, 17 December, one in seven such patients faced a delay of at least 30 minutes in the back of an ambulance or an area of the hospital where the crew look after them, up from one in eight the week before. | In the week to last Sunday, 17 December, one in seven such patients faced a delay of at least 30 minutes in the back of an ambulance or an area of the hospital where the crew look after them, up from one in eight the week before. |
| Hospitals are finding it impossible to stick to tough rules brought in for this winter by NHS England and NHS Improvement requiring that no patient should have to wait more than 15 minutes. | Hospitals are finding it impossible to stick to tough rules brought in for this winter by NHS England and NHS Improvement requiring that no patient should have to wait more than 15 minutes. |
| In a further sign of the extra pressure the NHS is under this winter, the number of times A&E units had to temporarily divert patients elsewhere because they could not cope with the demand for care rose from 25 the previous week to 30. | In a further sign of the extra pressure the NHS is under this winter, the number of times A&E units had to temporarily divert patients elsewhere because they could not cope with the demand for care rose from 25 the previous week to 30. |
| Gateshead hospital trust had to do so nine times, including four times on 13 December alone, while the main trust providing acute care in Worcestershire did it eight times. | Gateshead hospital trust had to do so nine times, including four times on 13 December alone, while the main trust providing acute care in Worcestershire did it eight times. |
| The shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, said: “Patients should be under no illusions: there has been an appalling winter downturn across our NHS over the past month. Despite the heroic efforts of our brilliant NHS staff, it’s unacceptable that so many patients have been stuck in the back of ambulances for such a long time.” | The shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, said: “Patients should be under no illusions: there has been an appalling winter downturn across our NHS over the past month. Despite the heroic efforts of our brilliant NHS staff, it’s unacceptable that so many patients have been stuck in the back of ambulances for such a long time.” |
| In the week to 17 December, 14,323 patients in England (15% of the total) waited at least half an hour before they were handed over for A&E care, up from 11,852 the previous week, a 21% increase. | In the week to 17 December, 14,323 patients in England (15% of the total) waited at least half an hour before they were handed over for A&E care, up from 11,852 the previous week, a 21% increase. |
| Of those patients, 10,899 were unable to access A&E care for between 30 and 60 minutes, up from 9,515 the week before, and 3,424 waited at least an hour, up from 2,337. | |
| A total of 95,392 patients arrived by ambulance at hospital emergency departments in England last week. | A total of 95,392 patients arrived by ambulance at hospital emergency departments in England last week. |
| Ashworth said that during the first month of winter a total of 46,993 patients had had to wait in the back of ambulances for more than 30 minutes, and 9,775 had had to wait for longer than an hour. “There has been an 86% rise in the number of delays for over one hour in just the past two weeks as the cold snap has hit,” he said. | Ashworth said that during the first month of winter a total of 46,993 patients had had to wait in the back of ambulances for more than 30 minutes, and 9,775 had had to wait for longer than an hour. “There has been an 86% rise in the number of delays for over one hour in just the past two weeks as the cold snap has hit,” he said. |
| The general and acute bed occupancy rate in hospitals rose from 94.6% to 95%, far above the 85% level experts consider the maximum to maintain safe patient care. | The general and acute bed occupancy rate in hospitals rose from 94.6% to 95%, far above the 85% level experts consider the maximum to maintain safe patient care. |
| Slightly fewer beds – 1,071 a day on average – were closed last week as a result of norovirus, the winter vomiting bug. But NHS England said the number of incidents was growing. | |
| For example, norovirus forced Northumbria Healthcare in the north-east to close and seal seven wards at four of its hospitals. “Every year we are affected by norovirus but this is the worst it’s been for a few years. All our main sites have people with the bug on them in some shape or form,” said Dr Jeremy Rushmer, the trust’s medical director. | For example, norovirus forced Northumbria Healthcare in the north-east to close and seal seven wards at four of its hospitals. “Every year we are affected by norovirus but this is the worst it’s been for a few years. All our main sites have people with the bug on them in some shape or form,” said Dr Jeremy Rushmer, the trust’s medical director. |
| The Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb said: “These figures show the NHS is under huge strain as we enter the Christmas period. Hospitals are suffering from a severe lack of beds and A&Es are already under intolerable pressure. | The Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb said: “These figures show the NHS is under huge strain as we enter the Christmas period. Hospitals are suffering from a severe lack of beds and A&Es are already under intolerable pressure. |
| “No patient should ever have to wait in pain in the back of an ambulance outside A&E, yet this is now becoming a routine occurrence across the country.” | “No patient should ever have to wait in pain in the back of an ambulance outside A&E, yet this is now becoming a routine occurrence across the country.” |
| An NHS England spokesman said: The recent cold snap has seen hospitals put under pressure, but they are generally coping. Additional services and beds will be coming online over the next few weeks funded by the [£337m] winter budget cash released by the government. Staff are working hard to ensure ambulance handovers are as smooth as possible.” |