A&E delays reach record high, figures show

According to figures for January released by NHS England, 88.7 per cent of patients were dealt with in four hours, falling short of the target of 95 per cent.

The response time is the worst monthly performance since the target came into force in 2004. NHS England have claimed the dip in performance is due to rising demand, with total attendances up by 10 per cent compared to January 2015. There was also a significant rise in the number of emergency admissions and calls to NHS 111.

The review also revealed other areas where the NHS was struggling, including: its target to see patients needing routine operations within 18 weeks was missed for the second month in a row; the key cancer target for patients to start their treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral from GP was missed for the 20th time in 21 months; twice as many people waited six weeks or longer for a diagnostic test than should have; NHS 111 failed to hit its target to answer calls within 60 seconds; and ambulances failed to hit their target to respond to the most critical calls in eight minutes, with one in three calls waited longer, the eight month in a row it has been missed

Richard Barker, from NHS England, said: "Against this backdrop it's not surprising hospitals saw a dip in their performance and it is a credit to all those working in emergency care that we are still admitting, treating and discharging almost nine in 10 patients within four hours.

"Winter pressures have come late this year with a sustained cold period and an increase in seasonal infections."