NHS overcrowding leads to ambulances being turned away

NHS England’s first weekly report of the winter has revealed that 95% of hospital beds are occupied, while anything above 85% is unsafe.

Meanwhile ambulances have been turned away, as overcrowded hospitals have put patients at risk.

The overcrowding has led to eight ambulances being turned away from A&Es, while significant numbers of ambulances were facing serious delays.

While ambulances should be able to drop patients off within 15 minutes of arrival, in one in nine cases it took more than twice as long.

“As the colder weather begins to set in, it's vital that the NHS and local authorities continue to work together to help people stay well and out of hospital wherever possible. The public can also help NHS staff by making sure they have their free flu jab if eligible and by using NHS 111 as their first port of call for non-emergencies,” an NHS England official said to the BBC.

Shockingly it has been more than a year since any part of the UK has hit one of its three key targets for: A&E waits, cancer care, hospital operations.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “Winter is only just beginning for our NHS and these are hugely concerning figures that don't bode well for the difficult weeks ahead.”

Louis Goss