In response to a report by MPs on urgent and emergency care access, Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, said:

"The committee has highlighted accurately the huge pressures being faced in urgent and emergency care.

"Last winter, one of the toughest that the NHS has ever seen, saw huge demand across the whole health and care system. This winter threatens to be even tougher.

"Trusts are working flat out in the face of relentless pressure compounded by severe workforce shortages and insufficient capacity – but still many patients are having to wait too long for care.

"Last month was the busiest September on record for accident and emergency departments with attendances up by almost 8% compared to the same time last year.

"Delayed discharges, where thousands of patients well enough to recover at or closer to home are in hospital beds largely due to a lack of social care capacity, are a major concern.

"The NHS needs more staff, beds and equipment and significant investment in social care.

"And with 125,000 unfilled jobs across the NHS today, MPs are right to highlight that we still don't know exactly how all of the ambitions in the long-term workforce plan, published in June, will be funded."