The NHS has continued to cut long waits for care, as staff continue to contend with record demand for emergency care and increased flu cases in hospital, new figures show today. Hardworking staff continue to make progress on the most ambitious catch-up programme in NHS history, with elective waiting lists for 18 weeks and 18 […]

The NHS is set to boost mental health support for people in crisis to ease demand and pressure on emergency services, as part of extensive winter plans already underway. Dozens of mental health professionals will work within ambulance control centres and accompany paramedics on emergency call outs to treat people of all ages who are […]

Issued at 8:47am on Monday 5 December There is a 90% probability of severe cold weather and icy conditions between 6pm on Wednesday 7 December and 9am on Monday 12 December in parts of England. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. Find out more about staying […]

Parents are being urged to protect their children against flu this winter following a surge in serious cases among under-fives. Figures suggest flu hospitalisations in young children are nearly 20 times as high as last year, with this week showing 230 under-fives hospitalised compared to just 12 at the same time last year. Estimates also […]

The number of beds taken up by patients fit to be discharged is more than a quarter higher than the start of December last year, new weekly figures show. More than 13,000 beds were filled nearly every day last week by patients who did not meet the criteria to reside in hospital – on average […]

More than 40 healthcare ‘traffic control centres’ are now live across England, helping to get patients into beds as quickly as possible. The pioneering centres use data to respond to emerging challenges and can divert ambulances to another nearby hospital with more capacity, or identify hospitals that need extra support. The move is part of […]

Hundreds of NHS beds in England were taken up by patients with flu every day over the last week, according to new weekly figures. The first weekly winter update shows there were an average of 344 patients a day with flu in hospital last week, more than 10 times the number seen at the beginning […]

Commenting on figures published this afternoon that more than 15 million COVID-19 boosters have been delivered this autumn: NHS National Director of Vaccinations and Screening Steve Russell said: “The NHS has now delivered more than 15 million autumn booster vaccines since September, providing crucial protection from COVID-19 to those at greatest risk from the virus […]

Commenting on increasing flu infection rates published today by UKHSA, the NHS can also reveal it has now administered 13.2 million flu vaccinations since September. NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening Steve Russell said: “The NHS has delivered more than 13.2 million flu vaccinations over the last two months providing crucial protection to the most […]

Issued at 8.03am on Tuesday 1 November 2022. Temperatures/weather conditions are not expected to exceed cold weather alert threshold criteria in any region from 9am on 1 November 2022 until further notice. More details about this weather alert are available on the Met Office website. Find out about staying well this winter.