• There were 555,465 emergency admissions in March 2019, 5.6% more than the previous year. 
• The NHS saw 131,391 additional patients within four hours in March 2019 when compared to March 2018.
• In March 2019, the ambulance service had an average mean response time of 7 minutes for Category 1 calls for the first time since the introduction of the new standards.
• In February 2019, trusts continued to bring down the number of 52+ week waiters in elective care.
• 93.4% of people in February 2019 were seen by a specialist within two weeks of an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer meeting the operational standard of 93%.
• The NHS is not meeting the new mental health standard.
  
  

Responding to the latest monthly performance figures from NHS England, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin said:

“Coming out of the winter months we are seeing a mixed picture in performance.

“It is clear that the rise in demand in emergency and urgent care services shows no sign of slowing. Performance against the four hour target remains well below the 95% standard; however, thanks to the hard work of NHS staff more people are being seen within this time.

Performance against the four hour target remains well below the 95% standard; however, thanks to the hard work of NHS staff more people are being seen within this time.

Miriam Deakin    Co-Director of Development and Engagement

“For the first time, we have also seen ambulance services meeting the new standard to get to patients with life-threatening cases despite growing demand.

“More widely we are seeing improvement in meeting key cancer targets, and trusts are making reductions against waiting lists. This is an achievement in the context of the steep rise in demand for services, including in urgent care.

These figures reflect the real story of winter. We must be realistic about the pressure trusts and their staff are under. There is a great distance to go to recover performance to the levels the public expect.

Miriam Deakin    Co-Director of Development and Engagement

“These figures reflect the real story of winter. We must be realistic about the pressure trusts and their staff are under. There is a great distance to go to recover performance to the levels the public expect.”