NHS still feeling winter strain as demand for beds stays high

Latest NHS England figures show:

• 96% of adult hospital beds occupied
• More than 13,500 beds filled by patients fit to be discharged but can’t be
• Ambulance handover delays down 40% but still 80% higher than same time last year

Isabel Lawicka, director of policy and strategy, NHS Providers, said:

"NHS trust leaders and staff are doing everything in their power to see patients as quickly as possible in the face of very challenging conditions.

"Hospital wards and beds are chock-a-block and the number of people with winter viruses remains exceptionally high.

"Safety and dignity of patients is paramount. Relentless pressure and demand across the whole NHS including hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services does mean that sometimes staff can’t attend to every patient where and as soon as they want to.

"It’s been a brutal winter for trust leaders and staff who continue to work tirelessly to adapt to difficult circumstances."