Responding to NHS England's winter situation report, which shows pressure on urgent and emergency care is rising, Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers said:

"Pressure on urgent and emergency is rising with more than a quarter of ambulance handovers delayed by 30 minutes or more last week – an increase on the week before.

"Trust leaders are deeply concerned by the ongoing mismatch between capacity and demand as bed occupancy remains far too high at 94% and delayed discharges persist. Every day last week, more than 13,700 medically fit patients couldn't leave hospital in part due to the need for more investment in social care.

"These pressures impact the entire system – including mental health and community services – while escalating industrial action and the vast workforce shortages further obstruct trusts’ ability to function at their best.

"To help resolve this, the government needs to urgently open talks on pay for this financial year with all striking unions and agree on a fully funded settlement.  The national long-term workforce plan, due this year, should also help address staff shortages. This, too, must be fully funded so that other vital resources are not depleted."

You can follow our analysis of the latest winter figures from NHS England through our NHS Winter Watch campaign.