Hospitals in England ‘face dangerous winter overcrowding due to discharge delays’

Exclusive: Analysis of NHS data shows rise in patients stranded' in beds as flu crisis hits and resident doctors' strikes loom

Hospitals in England face dangerous overcrowding this winter because even more patients than last year are stranded" in a bed, according to an analysis of NHS figures.

The findings come as the health service struggles to cope with the early onset of its usual winter crisis driven by a crippling flu-nami" and the NHS in England is bracing itself for a five-day strike by resident doctors starting on Wednesday.

The percentage of bed days used by patients whose discharge was delayed rose from 10.1% in 2024 to 11% this year, an increase of 9% or 19,000 bed days.

That rise was driven by an 8% year-on-year rise in the number of discharges, equivalent to about 3,800 patients a month.

The number of the NHS's overall stock of about 100,000 general and acute beds occupied last winter by delayed discharge patients hit a peak of 14%, but it is likely to be even higher this winter.