Responding to the latest winter statistics from NHS England, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

“These figures show real winter pressures persist wherever you look.

“Norovirus has led to thousands of bed closures, flu is very much still with us and hospital Covid cases have gone up.

“Inevitably, that’s all impacting staff absences too.

“Delays in discharging patients who are well enough to go home but can’t, often because appropriate social or community care isn’t readily available, are compounding these pressures.

“It’s particularly worrying to see the rise in ambulance handover delays compared to last year – a sign of continuing pressure right through the system.”