NHS surgery waiting list rises to all-time high of SIX MILLION as A&Es face worst delays ever

The NHS surgery waiting list has risen to an all-time high of six million as A&Es face their worst-ever delays.

Four out of 10 people waited more than four hours to be admitted to major emergency departments in December.

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Ambulances were called in with a record 82,361 life-or-death situations – class 1 calls – the equivalent of one call every 33 seconds.

It came as hospital staff illness from Covid has quadrupled to 46,000 per day, from just 13,000 a month ago.

Chief medical officer Professor Stephen Powis said: “Omicron has increased the number of people hospitalized with Covid while also sharply reducing the number of staff that can work.

“Once again, though, NHS staff have withdrawn all stops to continue providing services to patients.

“There have been record numbers of life-threatening ambulance calls, we are vaccinating thousands of people every day and that is more important than providing routine and continuing care. restore backlogs of work”.

Crowded A&E wards and departments left 12,986 people waiting more than 12 hours for an overnight bed – the highest number ever.

Pressure means 39% of A&E patients in major hospitals waited longer than the four hour target to be seen, although the number of patients fell to the lowest level since March.

Saffron Cordery, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the NHS Providers union, said: “These numbers demonstrate that trusts are under intense pressure and the incredible work NHS staff are doing to provide services. providing care.”