• Performance statistics for October 2016 confirm relentless rise in demand
• A&E attendances back above 2 million mark
• We say NHS is responding to unprecedented pressures but warning signs are becoming clearer 

NHS England has released the combined performance statistics for October 2016. (Link: )

More than 2 million people went to A and E in October this year – the third highest monthly figure on record. Emergency admissions rose by 3.4%, diagnostics tests by 5.1% and consultant-led treatment by 4.3%. Once again A&E waiting time standards were not met.

Delayed transfers of care reached record levels. There were 200,008 delayed days in October 2016.

Responding to the latest performance figures, published by NHS England, NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson said:

“These figures show once again the NHS is responding to the challenge of growing demand by treating more patients than ever before. It is a credit to frontline staff that in the midst of unprecedented pressures, performance compares well with many other countries.

“But every month the warning signs become clearer. NHS hospitals, community and mental health trusts and ambulance services can not keep up with the growing demands being placed upon them.

“There has been a notable increase in calls for help to NHS 111 – up 14% - and separately for ambulances – up nearly 5% in October this year compared with the same month in 2015. We are also starting to see more than two million attendances per month at A & E as a matter of routine. 

every month the warning signs become clearer. NHS hospitals, community and mental health trusts and ambulance services can not keep up with the growing demands being placed upon them

“This is clearly having an impact on performance against the main four-hour target, particularly in major emergency departments. Just 8 out of 139 major A and E units met the official standard to see 95% of patients within 4 hours.

“Once again delayed transfers of care are at record levels. They have risen by 25% in the past year. This underlines the urgent need to address underfunding of social care. We have also called for additional support for GPs to help ease wider pressures on the NHS.

“We have warned without these measures, many of the gains of recent years will be lost.”