Summary

  • A&E waits and ambulance response times have hit their worst levels on record across the UK

  • During a special day of coverage, we'll be reporting on the pressures faced by patients, doctors and nurses

  • We have teams stationed outside hospitals and in an A&E unit - and we'll bring you undercover insights from medics

  • Data released on Thursday shows more than 40% of people needing a hospital bed spent more than four hours waiting on trolleys

  • The NHS faces crises on multiple fronts this winter, with nurses and ambulance workers set to strike in the coming weeks

  • The government says the NHS will publish a recovery plan in the new year

  • Ministers have also pledged an extra £6.6bn over the next two years to improve urgent and emergency care

Live Reporting

Edited by Philippa Roxby and Michelle Roberts

  1. Record numbers faced four-hour A&E waits in October

    Ambulances outside hospital transferring beds and patientsPA Media

    A record number of people faced a long wait to be seen in accident and emergency (A&E) units in October, according to the most recent figures from NHS England.

    More than 550,000 patients had to wait more than four hours in A&E, up from 492,000 in September.

    That’s the highest proportion on record since the figures started being recorded in August 2010.

    Meanwhile some 43,792 patients had to wait at least 12 hours in A&E after a decision to admit to a ward had been made. That’s up 34% from 32,776 in September, and is again another record figure.

    The Society of Acute Medicine says the situation is "unacceptably poor" and likely to deteriorate further.

    NHS England said at the time it was facing a “tripledemic of Covid, flu and record pressure on emergency services”.

    Figures for November are due to be released at 09:30 this morning - and we'll bring them to you here as soon as they're published.

  2. Good morning

    Ambulances line up outside Royal London HospitalEPA

    Welcome to our special live coverage as we await the latest monthly data on A&E waiting times in England as the NHS faces winter battles on multiple fronts.

    Both accident and emergency waits and ambulance response times have hit their worst levels on record in all parts of the UK in recent months - adding to a range of stresses felt across the country right now.

    Added to that anxiety are upcoming strikes planned by nurses and ambulance workers, who are demanding a bigger pay rise than the government says it can afford.

    As today’s new A&E waiting time figures are released, we’ll have reporters stationed inside and outside hospitals - and we’ll let you know what ministers and NHS bosses are pledging to do to fix things.

    This page will also bring you “undercover” accounts from doctors and nurses who’ve told us what it’s like inside the system.

    So stay with us for live updates, analysis and reaction.