• NHS England publishes combined performance data for September 2017
• Figures show a fall in DTOC rates compared to last year and performance against A&E standard improves ahead of winter
• We say figures show that the efforts by NHS trusts to cope with growing demand are making a difference

NHS England has published combined performance data for September 2017.

The figures showed:

• a drop in the rate of delayed transfers of care by 14.4% compared to September 2016;
• while performance against the four target is below the 95% target, performance against the same time last year has improved ahead of winter;
• mix sex accommodation breaches are already at the same level as the peak they reached in winter last year.

Responding to the monthly performance statistics from NHS England, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

“Although performance across the NHS is under intense pressure, these figures show that the efforts by NHS trusts to cope with growing demand are making a difference.

“Of course, it is worrying that the key performance targets are still being missed. But it is encouraging to see some evidence of progress in reducing delayed transfers of care for patients who are medically fit to move on.

It is encouraging to see some evidence of progress in reducing delayed transfers of care for patients who are medically fit to move on.

“It is notable too that although overall performance against the four hour target in A & E is still not meeting the target, it was better than for the same time last year despite hospitals seeing and admitting more patients.

“However the rising number of breaches for mixed sex accommodation is a reminder that when resources are overstretched there is a risk that the quality of care and patient experience may be affected. 

“Trusts have worked extremely hard to tackle this problem. Respect for patients’ privacy and dignity is always a priority, and no one wants to see these numbers going up.”