NHS England has published the weekly winter monitoring report covering the week ending January 14.

The figures show:

• There were 6 ambulance diverts last week, down from 32 the previous week
• Average general and acute bed occupancy was 94.9%, down just 0.1% compared with the previous seven days
• Average occupancy of adult critical care beds was 86.9%t, the highest so far this winter.

 
Responding to the weekly winter operational update from NHS England, NHS Providers director of policy and strategy Saffron Cordery said:

"These figures show conditions remain extremely challenging.

"Although we saw a very slight easing of pressures last week, NHS trusts are still working at or beyond full stretch, resulting – at times – in care for patients that falls short of what trusts and their staff want to provide.

It is encouraging to see how NHS trusts have worked to recover the situation, with far fewer ambulance diverts and a significant drop in delays to hand over patients when they arrive at A&E.

"Having said that, it is encouraging to see how NHS trusts have worked to recover the situation, with far fewer ambulance diverts and a significant drop in delays to hand over patients when they arrive at A&E.

"However bed occupancy rates are still almost 10 per cent higher than the recommended safe level of 85%, and it is worrying to see the figure for adult critical care beds at the highest level so far this winter.

"The impact of flu and cold weather remains a serious concern. The worst of winter may be yet to come.

"It is clear we have reached a watershed moment. We need decisions in place on a long term funding solution for health and social care no later than the autumn budget. Our staff, and patients, deserve nothing less."