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Record numbers turn to NHS 111 as hospitals struggle Sharp rise in ambulance delays at A&E
(35 minutes later)
Record numbers of people called NHS 111 over the festive period and there was a sharp rise in ambulances being delayed outside accident and emergency units. There has been a large rise in the number of patients facing delays when they arrive at A&E in ambulances in England, figures show.
The data, from NHS England, covers the week ending 31 December. In the last week of 2017 there were 16,900 delays of 30 minutes - up by over 40% on the previous week.
More than 480,000 people called NHS 111 - a 21% rise on the previous week. Delays happen when A&E staff are not available for paramedics to hand over patients too.
Ambulance crews faced delays of over 30 minutes handing over patients to A&E staff nearly 17,000 times during the week - a rise of over 40% on the previous week. The figures from NHS England once again illustrate the pressure the health service is under.
The figures suggest the NHS was incredibly busy during the festive period, explaining why there have been so many problems this week.
At least 20 hospital trusts have had to declare major incidents this week - about one in eight of the total.At least 20 hospital trusts have had to declare major incidents this week - about one in eight of the total.
The pressures prompted NHS England to order the cancellation of tens of thousands of non-urgent operations until the end of January in an attempt to ease the pressure on hospitals.The pressures prompted NHS England to order the cancellation of tens of thousands of non-urgent operations until the end of January in an attempt to ease the pressure on hospitals.
Hunt apologyHunt apology
The move prompted Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to apologise to patients.The move prompted Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to apologise to patients.
Non-urgent treatments had already been cancelled until mid-January, but NHS England said on Tuesday that would now be extended to the end of the month.Non-urgent treatments had already been cancelled until mid-January, but NHS England said on Tuesday that would now be extended to the end of the month.
It came after hospitals reported they were struggling to cope with the surge in patients being seen since Christmas. Hospitals have also been given the green light to put patients on mixed wards to help ease the pressure.
At least 20 hospital trusts - one in eight - have declared a major incident this week, the BBC understands. The data released by NHS England also showed that a record number of calls were made to NHS 111, the free helpline, which was set up in 2014.
Bosses said they had been pushed into the move as patients were experiencing long waits in A&E and being left on trolleys in corridors because there were no beds available. There were 480,000 calls - a 21% rise on the previous week.
Some ambulance services have even started asking 999 callers with less serious problems to make their own way to hospital so they can prioritise the most life-threatening calls.
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Problems have also been reported in other parts of the UK.
The Welsh government said the health service was facing "significant pressure".
Meanwhile, in Scotland there has been a 20% jump in A&E attendances compared with the previous year, prompting an increase in patients waiting more than four hours, and in Northern Ireland the Antrim Area Hospital has had to bring in St John Ambulance volunteers to help with a surge in demand.
NHS England's Prof Keith Willett admitted the pressures were severe - the worst he had seen since the 1990s - but denied there was a crisis, as plans were in place to help hospitals.
Has your operation been cancelled? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Has your operation been cancelled? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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