Responding to the latest urgent and emergency care situation report published by NHS England, Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said:

“We welcome the drop in patients admitted to hospital with flu in what has been a tough and long winter. However, a record high this winter for delayed discharges with 13,776 hospital beds filled up with patients medically fit enough to be discharged, shows that the NHS is not out of the woods yet.  

“Bed closures due to norovirus and insufficient care capacity in the community are still leading to longer hospital stays, less bed availability for new admissions, and increased pressure on healthcare resources. NHS health leaders and their teams hope the situation will improve soon as they continue to work hard and towards the ambitions set by the government around elective and A&E waiting times. They must solve these intractable problems in the upcoming ten-year health plan and urgent and emergency care recovery plan.”