Latest NHS England figures show:
- Number of people in hospital with flu up by two thirds in a
week, Covid-19 cases in hospital up by 12 per cent
- Nearly 50,000 a day NHS staff off sick last week including
more with Covid-19
- 96 per cent of adult general and acute beds full
- More than 12,700 patients a day on average ready to leave
hospital but can’t be discharged
- Time lost to ambulance handover delays down on last week and
same time last year - but considerable pressure remains
Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive, NHS Providers, said:
“The figures tell the story of a hard-working NHS in the grip of
winter and up against it as bugs and illnesses including flu
drive up the number of people needing care. And Covid-19 hasn’t
gone away.
"A three-day strike by junior doctors across England this week –
with the longest-ever walkout planned for early January – is
ramping up already significant pressure on health services and
will mean many more patients’ scheduled treatments and
appointments are delayed.
"There’s pressure right through the system. From chock-a-block
hospital wards to a rising number of staff off work sick on top
of more than 121,000 vacancies across England in hospital,
ambulance, mental health and community trusts – at a time when
many staff are off on planned leave.
“Trusts are doing all they can to ensure patients receive the
care they need as quickly as possible, working hard to reduce
handover delays when people arrive at hospital in ambulances and
to enable patients to get home to be with or close to their loved
ones as soon as they’re well enough to do so.
“Safety and quality of care remain the priority for all trust
leaders. We urge the government and unions to get back round the
negotiating table now to hammer out a deal that will end the
junior doctors’ strikes and take the extra strain off staff,
services and patients.”
