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.
Patients' surgeries across the country have been cancelled this week as the NHS struggles with beds not being freed up quickly enough.
Since Monday more than thirty operations have been cancelled at the Royal Shrewsbury hospital, Basildon hospital has been placed on black alert with routine operations cancelled, and a major internal incident has been declared at Gloucestershire Royal leading to it being put on black alert as well.
ITV News Correspondent Nina Nannar 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.