• NHS England publishes combined performance figures for May 2017
• Figures show that the reduction in number of delayed transfers of care has stalled
• We say we must do better if we are to significantly reduce the number of delayed transfers of care ahead of next winter

NHS England has published combined performance figures for May 2017.

The figures showed:  

• Delayed transfers of care are at the same level as last month indicating that progress in reducing these has fallen.
• Emergency admissions increased 3% compared to same time last year, and for the second time, there have been over 500,000 admissions in a month.
• Diagnostic tests increased 4.7% over the last 12 months, and the number of patients waiting over the 6 week standard for these tests is rising and at the highest number since January 2016.

The director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

“The figures for May show that health and care services remain under sustained pressure.

“Last month we saw a fall in delayed transfers of care however this welcome progress appears to have stalled. If we are going to reduce this number significantly by September and put ourselves in a better position for next winter, we must do better. 

If we are going to reduce this number significantly by September and put ourselves in a better position for next winter, we must do better.

“These figures should be seen in the context of the demand for services. We are now regularly seeing more than 2million patients attend A&E each month, while for only the second time we have seen emergency admissions rise beyond half a million. In elective care, despite carrying out more diagnostic tests than ever, the number of patients waiting longer than six weeks for these tests is at its highest since January 2016.

“It is clear we need urgent decisions on how we will ensure the NHS has the capacity to deal with the coming winter.”