Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was forced to deny he is trying to cover up a rise in A&E waiting times after the government said they would delay releasing figures over the Christmas break. Labour accused the government of a 'media blackout', but they insisted it was to allow NHS staff to have time off over the holidays.
Demand for Accident & Emergency services has already increased by 25% in some areas as the NHS prepares for the annual winter surge in patient numbers.
NHS England chief medical director Sir Bruce Keogh stressed that high expectations from the public and budget cutbacks were also making it more difficult for the system to succeed.
ITV News Political Correspondent Emily Morgan reports:
Senior NHS emergency medical consultant admits there is "absolutely a winter crisis."
Around 80% of all nurses hired by NHS hospitals in the past year were recruited from overseas amid a "serious" shortage of UK-based workers.
The Chief Executive for the NHS in Wales is to outline how health boards planning for winter pressures.