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| A&E performance in England 'likely to hit new low' | A&E performance in England 'likely to hit new low' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A&E waiting times in England have fallen to their worst level for a decade, figures out later are expected to show. | A&E waiting times in England have fallen to their worst level for a decade, figures out later are expected to show. |
| The data being released by NHS England covers the October to December quarter. | The data being released by NHS England covers the October to December quarter. |
| From the weekly statistics already available up to mid-December it is clear the four-hour target has almost certainly been missed. | From the weekly statistics already available up to mid-December it is clear the four-hour target has almost certainly been missed. |
| Performance is also on track to fall below the 94.1% mark recorded in the first three months of 2013. | Performance is also on track to fall below the 94.1% mark recorded in the first three months of 2013. |
| It comes amid growing pressures on hospitals with a number declaring "major incidents" in recent days because of A&E pressures. | It comes amid growing pressures on hospitals with a number declaring "major incidents" in recent days because of A&E pressures. |
| It means extra staff are brought in to help them cope and other steps, including cancelling non-emergency care, such as routine operations, can be taken. | It means extra staff are brought in to help them cope and other steps, including cancelling non-emergency care, such as routine operations, can be taken. |
| Dr Cliff Mann, of the College of Emergency Medicine, said it was likely there were other hospitals approaching a similar position. | Dr Cliff Mann, of the College of Emergency Medicine, said it was likely there were other hospitals approaching a similar position. |
| "A&E units are really busy and services are stretched in many places. There is just not the capacity in the community to get patients out and with record numbers coming in there is gridlock. | "A&E units are really busy and services are stretched in many places. There is just not the capacity in the community to get patients out and with record numbers coming in there is gridlock. |
| "The NHS has been given extra money this winter to help it cope, but I am not convinced it has all got through to the places it should. Things are getting very difficult." | "The NHS has been given extra money this winter to help it cope, but I am not convinced it has all got through to the places it should. Things are getting very difficult." |
| A&E units in England have struggled since the end of the summer. The target demands that A&E units see 95% of patients in four hours, but since the end of August it has only been met once, according to the weekly figures that are published. | A&E units in England have struggled since the end of the summer. The target demands that A&E units see 95% of patients in four hours, but since the end of August it has only been met once, according to the weekly figures that are published. |
| Overall, however, the NHS is judged on its performance over a quarter. This is what is being released on Tuesday. From the weekly data available from the start of October to the middle of December the current average for the quarter is running at just above 93%. | Overall, however, the NHS is judged on its performance over a quarter. This is what is being released on Tuesday. From the weekly data available from the start of October to the middle of December the current average for the quarter is running at just above 93%. |
| While that is below the target, it is still better than the performance being seen elsewhere in the UK. | While that is below the target, it is still better than the performance being seen elsewhere in the UK. |
| England publishes weekly data and the others release it monthly or quarterly. | England publishes weekly data and the others release it monthly or quarterly. |
| In Wales the data from November shows just 83.8% of patients were seen in time. | In Wales the data from November shows just 83.8% of patients were seen in time. |
| Northern Ireland is performing even worse - just over 80% of patients were seen within four hours in November. | Northern Ireland is performing even worse - just over 80% of patients were seen within four hours in November. |
| Scotland has a slightly tougher waiting time target - 98% of patients should be seen in four hours - but in September 93.5% were. | Scotland has a slightly tougher waiting time target - 98% of patients should be seen in four hours - but in September 93.5% were. |
| Comparing the September figures for England and Scotland shows England was performing slightly better in that month. | Comparing the September figures for England and Scotland shows England was performing slightly better in that month. |
| 'Cracks showing' | 'Cracks showing' |
| It means according to latest data all parts of the UK are missing the A&E waiting time target. | It means according to latest data all parts of the UK are missing the A&E waiting time target. |
| Nigel Edwards, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust think-tank, said: "All the stops are being pulled out to meet waiting times targets at A&E departments, a focus that is quite explicitly being driven by the election. But the cracks are showing. | Nigel Edwards, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust think-tank, said: "All the stops are being pulled out to meet waiting times targets at A&E departments, a focus that is quite explicitly being driven by the election. But the cracks are showing. |
| "There have been big spikes in the numbers of people needing to be admitted to hospital in an emergency for reasons that are not very clear. | "There have been big spikes in the numbers of people needing to be admitted to hospital in an emergency for reasons that are not very clear. |
| "We may be reaching the point at which general practice, community services and social care can no longer contain the growing demand for their services." | "We may be reaching the point at which general practice, community services and social care can no longer contain the growing demand for their services." |
| How the UK has prepared for winter | How the UK has prepared for winter |
| What has been your experience of A&E waiting times recently? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
| Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | |
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