• King's Fund publish quarterly monitoring report 
• Report examines the views of finance directors on the productivity challenge they face
• Trolley waits at record high

Responding to the King’s Fund’s quarterly monitoring report, NHS Providers deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery, said:

"NHS trusts and frontline staff are doing all they can to ensure patients receive safe and timely care.

"But as these findings show, it is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve this when demand for treatment is growing so quickly, and funding is so tight.

It is also disappointing to see so many people waiting longer than 18 weeks for planned routine operations. It feels like we are losing the hard-won gains of the last decade.

"It is disturbing to see that 'trolley waits' have reached record levels. Patients deserve better.

"It is also disappointing to see so many people waiting longer than 18 weeks for planned routine operations. It feels like we are losing the hard-won gains of the last decade.

"We have reached a watershed moment. We need to see urgent steps towards establishing a long term funding solution for health and social care.”