New report highlights record-breaking levels of demand for NHS services

Demand for NHS services has risen to record-breaking levels, according to a new report from leading thinktank The King's Fund.

According to the analysis, the number of patients attending accident and emergency departments climbed to nearly six million in the first quarter of 2016-17, with 90 percent of hospital beds occupied – well above the threshold considered safe.

Moreover, at the end of June there were 6,100 patients deemed to be medically fit to leave hospital but were still waiting to be discharged, marking an increase of 22 percent on last year, and the highest number recorded since data collection began.

Further analysis shows that 47 percent of NHS finance directors who contributed to the report predicted trusts will be facing end-of-year deficits, while 40 percent said they were worried about meeting their productivity targets for the year.

Responding to the findings, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said the data shows how important it is for additional funding to be provided for the NHS.

Lara Carmona, the RCN's associate director of policy, international and parliamentary affairs, said: "The only way out of this degree of pressure is for the government to recognise the scale of the problem, and support hospitals in dealing with their financial difficulties."

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