NHS hospitals still in grip of winter crisis, figures show

NHS England data reveals 11,000 patients were cared for by ambulance crews last week

Hospitals remain under intense pressure this winter from flu and illness caused by the cold weather, NHS England figures show.

A&E units had to divert patients to other hospitals 20 times last week, and more than 11,000 patients had to be looked after by ambulance crews for at least half an hour before they could be handed over to A&E nurses.

Related: NHS hospitals facing serious shortages of vital equipment

A combination of factors are at play. Hospitals have fewer beds than last year, so they are less able to deal with the recent, ongoing surge in illness. Last week, for example, the bed occupancy rate at 17 of England’s 153 acute hospital trusts was 98% or more, with the fullest – Walsall healthcare trust – 99.9% occupied.

Related: Jeremy Corbyn: Theresa May is in denial about NHS

Continue reading... January 25, 2018 at 05:35PM