NHS winter stats: A&E diversions due to overwhelmed hospitals increases by 75%

EMBARGO: Immediate release

The first NHS winter ‘situation report’ statistics, published this morning, have shown that the Government “is in total denial”, the Liberal Democrats have said, as the party called for an emergency winter package to save the NHS from another crisis.

New statistics show that there has been a 75% rise in the number of incidents of A&Es having to divert patients to other hospitals due to being overwhelmed.

A&Es had to implement this procedure 20 times between the 25th and 30th of November 2024 - they used it 35 times in the same period in 2025.

Diverts are defined as “occasions/periods during which there was an agreed temporary divert of patients to other A&E departments to provide temporary respite (i.e. not to meet a clinical need).”

Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

“These figures confirm what many feared: that this winter could break the NHS. Patients face the prospect of totally overwhelmed A&Es, where vulnerable people wait hours and days to be admitted to hospitals.

“The Government is in total denial. They have failed to winterproof our NHS. If they don’t step up now, patients will pay the price.

“Liberal Democrats are urging ministers to immediately fund thousands of new hospital and social care beds so that people can be admitted, and bring forward a rescue package for our broken GP services so fewer people have to turn to A&E in the first place.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Stats can be found here https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/uec-sitrep/urgent-and-emergency-care-daily-situation-reports-2025-26/