NHS England published its weekly winter operational update for the week ending 23 January 2022 on 27 January 2022. It reports that more than 72,000 NHS staff were absent due to sickness each day that week on average, an increase of 13,605 a day compared with the start of December1.
Pressure in hospitals remains high, with 93% of adult general and acute beds occupied over the week. Paediatric general and acute beds saw an almost 3 percentage point increase in occupancy from the previous week to the week covered by the update1.
There were 85,467 arrivals at A&E via ambulance in the week ending 23 January 2022, an increase of almost 2,000 on the previous week and the busiest week since the start of December1.
NHS National Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis said:
"While it is positive to see more NHS staff back at work, pressure on the NHS is still intense, having seen the busiest week for ambulances taking patients to A&E since the start of December, up almost 2,000 on the week before last, all while pushing to deliver as many routine checks and procedures as possible, including vital diagnostic checks."
The update also reports that staff answered thousands more 111 calls in the week than in the seven days before, continued to care for thousands of COVID patients and maintained non-COVID procedures, working with social care colleagues to get people out of hospital safely1.
| Measure | Latest week (ending 23 January 2022) | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| NHS staff absent due to sickness | More than 72,000 each day on average | Up 13,605 a day on the start of December |
| Adult general and acute bed occupancy | 93% | Not reported |
| Paediatric general and acute bed occupancy | Not reported | Almost 3 percentage point increase on the previous week |
| A&E arrivals via ambulance | 85,467 | Up almost 2,000 on the previous week; busiest week since the start of December |
Why it matters for households
The figures cover NHS services in England for the week ending 23 January 2022. High staff absence and high bed occupancy are reported alongside the busiest week for ambulance arrivals at A&E since the start of December, which bears on how quickly emergency and routine care can be delivered during that period1.
NHS England asks the public to help by coming forward for COVID vaccines. It advises that people with a health problem go to 111 online, and call 999 when it is a life threatening condition1. Households planning for health emergencies can find background in the health emergencies hub.
What happens next
No further operational update for later weeks is reported here. NHS England's published figures are dated 27 January 20221.
