Home / Health / NHS Bed Occupancy Drops Below 80% This Christmas
NHS Bed Occupancy Drops Below 80% This Christmas
6 Jan
Summary
- Fewer than 5,000 patients occupied hospital beds on Christmas Day compared to last year.
- Nearly 95% of planned care, including tests and operations, was delivered despite industrial action.
- NHS 111 received over 87,000 calls on Saturday, December 27, a two-year high.
This Christmas, UK hospitals saw a notable decrease in patient numbers, with over 5,000 fewer individuals in beds compared to the previous year, achieving an occupancy rate below 80%. This success was managed despite a week of industrial action by resident doctors in the preceding days. NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey commended staff for enabling thousands of patients to return home for the holidays.
Remarkably, NHS staff managed to cover for striking doctors while maintaining almost 95% of normal activity for tests and operations. This effort occurred amidst an early rise in winter viruses, which presented additional challenges. Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed gratitude for the staff's dedication during this difficult winter period.
Despite these achievements, the health service anticipates continued pressure due to a cold snap, which is expected to increase patient demand. Calls to NHS 111 reached a two-year high on December 27th, with over 87,000 calls received that day. The Health Secretary remains committed to resolving the ongoing disputes with doctors.
