NHS not free from winter challenges yet despite improvements

Latest NHS England figures show:

• Record number of patients in hospital with norovirus.
• Beds closed to flu a fifth lower than last year but RSV and Covid-19 on the rise.
• More than 95% of adult hospital beds occupied.
• More than 1 in 7 beds a day still taken up by people who don’t need to stay in hospital.

Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive, NHS Providers, said:

"Despite a further fall in the number of people in hospital with flu, cases of serious norovirus are still on the rise while Covid-19 and RSV haven’t gone away.

"Hospital wards are almost full while delays discharging patients, often due to a shortage of social or community care, still have a huge impact - with around one in seven beds taken up by people who are ready to continue their recovery at or closer to home. We saw a winter high of 59% of patients fit to be discharged staying in hospital last week.

"Winter has seen very high demand right across hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services but trust leaders and staff continue to do everything they can to see patients as quickly as possible in the face of extreme pressure and challenges."