Urgent and emergency care

Comment on industrial action

Commenting on the junior doctors industrial action, NHS England national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “Staff are working incredibly hard during this unprecedented period of industrial action, and we expect the situation to become more challenging each day this strike progresses. As the week goes on, we expect to see staff cover stretched […]

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NHS set for ‘unparalleled levels of disruption’ during next round of strikes

Commenting ahead of next week’s industrial action, NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “This next round of strikes will see unparalleled levels of disruption, and we are very concerned about the potential severity of impact on patients and services across the country. “This time the action immediately follows a four-day bank holiday […]

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NHS weekly operational update for the week ending 26 March 2023

Commenting on this morning’s updated weekly sitrep figures, NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “Today’s figures show NHS staff remain under considerable pressure, with more than 19 in 20 beds occupied, including 13,000 each day taken up by patients who no longer meet the criteria to reside, despite almost 4,000 more beds […]

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NHS weekly winter operational update for the week ending 19 March 2023

Commenting on this morning’s updated weekly sitrep figures, NHS England’s chief strategy officer, Chris Hopson, said: “Three years since the NHS treated the first Covid patient in hospital, new figures today show our hardworking staff have now treated more than one million patients with Covid in hospitals across England throughout the pandemic. While we are […]

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Some hospitals see busiest Monday of the year so far for A&E attendance

NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “Emergency departments remained under severe pressure yesterday (13 March), and, while we are prioritising urgent and critical care, it’s important to remember that GP surgeries and pharmacies are largely unaffected and that 111 online can help with many non-urgent needs. “Some hospitals even saw their busiest […]

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NHS continues to make huge strides reducing waits for patients despite winter pressures

The number of people waiting longest for routine care has fallen, despite hospitals having to contend with high levels of winter viruses and strike action, new figures show today. Thanks to the hard work of staff, the NHS is making significant progress against its elective recovery plan, with the number of people waiting over 18 […]

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