The Liberal Democrats have warned the NHS is facing a “Christmas  crisis,” after figures today showed hospitals are facing chronic bed shortages while thousands of patients are being left for an hour or more in ambulances outside A&E.

The winter pressure figures for the 11th to 17th December show:

• 3,424 patients spent an hour or more in the back of an ambulance outside A&E, while 10,899 patients faced delays of over half an hour.
• Around 1,000 beds or more were closed each day due to norovirus or similar symptoms.
• On some days up to 8 A&Es were diverting patients because they couldn’t cope with demand.
• On some days up to 10 hospital trusts had no beds spare at all, while 90 of 135 hospital trusts were above 95% capacity.

Liberal Democrat former Health Minister Norman Lamb commented:

“These shocking figures show the NHS is entering a Christmas crisis.

“Hospitals are suffering from a severe lack of beds and A&Es are under intolerable pressure.

“No patient should ever have to wait in pain in the back of an ambulance outside A&E, yet this is now becoming a routine occurrence across the country.

“It is galling that despite all the evidence showing the NHS is struggling to cope, Theresa May still won’t face up to the scale of the challenge.

“Yesterday I challenged the Prime Minister to stop presiding over the steady decline of the NHS and work with other parties to find a long-term, sustainable solution.

“Today’s grim figures show why this is needed more than ever.”

Notes

Today’s NHS winter pressure figures can be found here