• NHS Improvement have published the Q1 financial and performance figures for the provider sector
• NHS staff saw more people in under four hours than in the same period last year
• Results are mixed on performance standards for planned care

Responding to the publication of the Q1 financial and performance figures for the NHS provider sector, NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson, said:

"NHS trusts are doing all they can to respond to a triple challenge of rapidly increasing demand, growing workforce shortages and continuing pressure on NHS finances.

"Trusts and their staff are working incredibly hard, as shown by the fact that they have treated more A&E patients within the four-hour standard than ever before.

NHS trusts are doing all they can to respond to a triple challenge of rapidly increasing demand, growing workforce shortages and continuing pressure on NHS finances.

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"But however hard they run, they don’t seem able to outpace the increase in demand.

"Trusts tell us they are most worried about the workforce shortages they face, and it’s a real concern that these figures have shown such a big increase in vacancy levels. It’s worrying that this problem is getting worse rather than better.

"We have argued for some time that the underlying deficit in the trust sector is over £4bn, and it’s good that we now have the facts on full, open and honest display.

"This will enable us to have the debate that we need on how the underlying deficit should be addressed as part of the forthcoming NHS long-term plan.

The figures also show that our current approach is simply no longer sustainable

"The figures also show that our current approach is simply no longer sustainable. The long-term plan will also need to set out how we transform the NHS at pace to move to a more sustainable model of providing care.

"In short, trusts are doing absolutely everything they can to provide the best possible patient care but it’s an extremely challenging environment – and that applies to the rest of the NHS and social care frontline too."