NHS England has published its latest winter monitoring data for week ending 4 February, Public Health England data for week ending 28 January, and the monthly combined performance figures.

Responding to the latest data, Saffron Cordery, director of policy and strategy and deputy chief executive at NHS Providers, said:

"These figures show there has been absolutely no let-up in the pressures on the NHS. As always the biggest priority for NHS trusts and staff is ensuring patient safety. They are working flat out, often in extremely challenging conditions.

"While A&E departments remain under significant pressure, NHS trusts across the country have managed to not let performance against the four hour A&E target slip below what it was last year. That is despite there being over 100,000 more attendances to A&E departments this January.

These figures show there has been absolutely no let-up in the pressures on the NHS. As always the biggest priority for NHS trusts and staff is ensuring patient safety.

"It is also a concern that many patients continue to face long delays as they are handed over from ambulance to A&E. Since the start of winter nearly 30,000 people have had to wait more than an hour.

"Bed occupancy remains well above recommended safe levels, but the positive news is that fewer patients are facing delays in being transferred out of hospital once they are medically fit to be discharged. Dealing with this has been a big priority for NHS trusts and local councils working in partnership over the winter and it is paying off for patients.

"More generally, these figures are another clear sign of a system that is overstretched. We know the worst of winter may be yet to come. Continuing cold weather will inevitably add extra strain to services which are already struggling to cope. All of this points to the need for a long-term funding settlement for the NHS and social care to be reached – one that enables local care services to deliver the standards that patients deserve."