Record number of ambulances queuing outside A&E over Christmas

Flu cases also continue to rise amid bed shortages as NHS tackles one of its most difficult periods in history

A record number of ambulances were delayed outside A&E departments over the Christmas period as the NHS grapples with one of the most difficult periods in its history.

Official figures published by the NHS on Friday showed that more than a quarter of patients (26 per cent) waited an hour to be transferred from ambulance to hospital ward.

Four in 10 (44 per cent), meanwhile, waited for at least 30 minutes.