A picture of health? More are treated, but bed-blocking is up

摘要

An NHS chief has welcomed latest hospital performance figures as 'the best of any western nation' while warning of relentless pressures on the service. Matthew Swindells, NHS England's national director, operations and information, said the latest monthly figures for July 2016, published last month, showed 90% of A&E patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours of arrival. Mr Swindells said: 'As the NHS responds to ever-increasing care needs, hospitals are continuing to look after more than nine out of 10 A&E patients within four hours, and more than nine in 10 patients are waiting less than 18 weeks for their routine operations. While this is probably the best performance of any western nation, these figures underline the pressures facing the NHS.'