Feels like winter already - Record A&E and ambulances demand

Latest (October) NHS England figures show:

• Record number of the most urgent ambulance call outs - 37% more than pre-pandemic
• Most 999 calls of any month this year
• Record number of A&E attendances in the past year 
• Average 12,340 beds each day taken up by people who are ready to leave hospital 

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

"Already it feels like winter, regularly the busiest and toughest time of year, in many parts of the NHS.

"Our survey out this week shows 96% of trust leaders are worried about the effect of winter pressures on an already stretched NHS. Persistent demand keeps piling pressure on hospital, ambulance, community and mental health services tackling huge financial and operational challenges every day.

"It’s good to see the overall waiting list come down plus more diagnostic tests, cancer checks and treatments. But too many people are still waiting too long for care despite trust leaders and staff giving it all they’ve got to see patients as quickly as possible.

"We look forward to the government’s promised Elective Reform Plan to help cut waits. Extra winter demand will make it hard to maintain progress on reducing waiting times and discharge delays.

"Severe staff shortages continue to take their toll too. At the last count anxiety, stress, depression and other psychiatric illnesses were the most reported reason for NHS staff sickness absences – more than one quarter of the total and equal to more than 555,000 lost full-time days a year."