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| NHS England records worst performance for second month in a row | NHS England records worst performance for second month in a row |
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| The NHS in England has suffered its worst ever performance for the second successive month in February. | The NHS in England has suffered its worst ever performance for the second successive month in February. |
| As in January, hundreds of thousands of patients were forced to wait longer than they should for time-critical care as the NHS missed almost all its key waiting time targets. Labour said the figures showed a health service “on its knees and in crisis”. | |
| Official statistics, published on Thursday, show that hospital A&E departments kept 224,116 patients waiting more than the maximum four hours to be admitted, transferred or discharged, compared with 212,136 in January and 131,248 in February last year. | Official statistics, published on Thursday, show that hospital A&E departments kept 224,116 patients waiting more than the maximum four hours to be admitted, transferred or discharged, compared with 212,136 in January and 131,248 in February last year. |
| They only treated 81.6% of patients within four hours, way below the 95% standard they are meant to achieve. | They only treated 81.6% of patients within four hours, way below the 95% standard they are meant to achieve. |
| The worrying figures were recorded despite England and Wales being on track to record its warmest ever winter. | The worrying figures were recorded despite England and Wales being on track to record its warmest ever winter. |
| A&E departments are likely to be put under further strain during the next junior doctors’ strike on 26 and 27 April, which for the first time will include those working in emergency care, although many consultants will be pitching in to cover them. | A&E departments are likely to be put under further strain during the next junior doctors’ strike on 26 and 27 April, which for the first time will include those working in emergency care, although many consultants will be pitching in to cover them. |
| The NHS said that emergency departments faced increased demand, with admissions 8.8% higher than in February last year. | The NHS said that emergency departments faced increased demand, with admissions 8.8% higher than in February last year. |
| The shadow health secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “These figures show an NHS on its knees and in crisis. | |
| “Under David Cameron we’re heading back to the bad old days of patients waiting hours on end in overcrowded A&E departments or stuck on trolleys because no beds are available. | |
| “The pressures in hospitals are a direct consequence of decisions this Tory government has taken. Cuts to social care have left too many older people without the support they need to remain independent at home, and it has got harder and harder to see a GP – leaving many people with no choice but to go to A&E.” | |
| The figures were equally grim with respect to other performance indicators, with the largest number of patients ever – 263,580 – waiting more than the supposed maximum of 18 weeks to have planned care in hospital, such as a hernia or cataract operation. | The figures were equally grim with respect to other performance indicators, with the largest number of patients ever – 263,580 – waiting more than the supposed maximum of 18 weeks to have planned care in hospital, such as a hernia or cataract operation. |
| There was a slight improvement in cancer waiting time statistics, with hospitals breaching one of the eight waiting time targets, compared with two the previous month. The breach was in the proportion referred by their GP to have a first treatment for cancer within 62 days. The recorded level was 81%, the same as in January, below the standard of 85% and the joint worst performance ever recorded. | There was a slight improvement in cancer waiting time statistics, with hospitals breaching one of the eight waiting time targets, compared with two the previous month. The breach was in the proportion referred by their GP to have a first treatment for cancer within 62 days. The recorded level was 81%, the same as in January, below the standard of 85% and the joint worst performance ever recorded. |
| The 10 NHS regional ambulance services also struggled. The proportion arriving to Red 2 calls, which cover less serious but still potentially life-threatening illnesses, within eight minutes was 60.3%, the lowest since records began in June 2012 and well below the 75% target. | The 10 NHS regional ambulance services also struggled. The proportion arriving to Red 2 calls, which cover less serious but still potentially life-threatening illnesses, within eight minutes was 60.3%, the lowest since records began in June 2012 and well below the 75% target. |
| Of the most urgent – Red 1 – calls, such as for someone having a cardiac arrest, 68.0% saw an ambulance arriving within eight minutes, down from 69.9% in January and the ninth month in a row in which the 75% target was missed. | Of the most urgent – Red 1 – calls, such as for someone having a cardiac arrest, 68.0% saw an ambulance arriving within eight minutes, down from 69.9% in January and the ninth month in a row in which the 75% target was missed. |