Our response to the latest Combined Performance Summary from NHS England

Nigel Edwards responds to the latest Combined Performance Summary from NHS England.

Press release

Published: 11/02/2016

Responding to the latest Combined Performance Summary from NHS England, Nuffield Trust Chief Executive Nigel Edwards said:

“These new figures, covering December, confirm the findings of our report today that every winter is getting tougher for the NHS. The number of people waiting too long in A&E and the number of hospital beds occupied by patients who’ve finished their medical treatment have both risen yet again since the previous month.

“In addition, for the first time the NHS has missed its target that most patients should get their planned hospital treatment within 18 weeks.  We know that not having too long to wait for an operation is something that really matters to patients – the fact that this target has been breached for the first time shows how the pressure on emergency care is spreading.

“We need to keep this in perspective: most A&E patients still wait less than an hour. But the consequences of a health service entering every successive winter with less and less ‘in the tank’ are now becoming clear."

Notes to editors

The Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation today released ‘Winter pressures: what’s going on behind the scenes?’ as part of our QualityWatch programme monitoring standards in the NHS and social care. The report examines trends in 15 key indicators over the last five years, concluding traditionally poorer performance in winter is now becoming the norm all year round.

Comments