Data released by NHS England show that in March 2018:

• Overall performance against the four hour target in A & E fell to 84.6 per cent - the lowest level since data collection began.
• The number of patients who waited longer than four hours to be admitted, transferred or discharged rose to 315,043 – an increase of more than 50 per cent compared to the previous March.
• 31,000 more patients turned up at A&E compared to the same month last year.
• Emergency admissions rose by 3.3 per cent compared with March 2017.

Responding to the latest NHS performance figures from NHS England, the head of analysis at NHS Providers, Phillippa Hentsch, said: 

“These figures underline the urgency of the problems facing the NHS.

These figures underline the urgency of the problems facing the NHS.

“They reflect the continued severe winter pressures we saw in March.

“But they also highlight the fundamental lack of capacity – in terms of beds and staff – to meet the standards expected of the NHS, and that trusts and frontline staff want to deliver.

“This is a problem right across health and care, including hospitals, mental health and community trusts, ambulance services, and social care.

“Trusts and staff are working flat out, treating more patients than ever.

“But as our recent report showed, the pressures they face will only intensify in the year ahead.

We need to ensure funding reflects the task in hand. We must be realistic about the demands faced by the NHS.

“The findings from the British Social Attitudes survey, published today, show the public understands these concerns, and is prepared to pay more for the NHS.

“We welcomed the prime minister’s recent commitment to long term sustainable funding for the health service.

“But that makes no immediate difference to the difficulties trusts face in the coming year.

“We need to ensure funding reflects the task in hand. We must be realistic about the demands faced by the NHS. And we must ensure frontline organisations play a full part in preparing for the challenges ahead.”