‘We now have some trust chief executives … telling us this is the busiest it has ever been’

Rising patient numbers are placing further strain on the NHS across the country, with major hospitals declaring “black alerts” over bed shortages and more operations being cancelled.

Hospital chiefs have warned the NHS is now the busiest it has ever been, and the health secretary, Sajid Javid, has accepted the health service will need more investment.

Two major London hospitals have declared “black alert” incidents in recent days due to bed shortages and increasing numbers of Covid patients, as well as rising numbers of people turning up in A&E.