NHS under ‘extraordinary pressure’ as amber cold alerts issued for all England

Hospitals brace for new year surge in sick patients as temperatures plummet and with 95% of beds full

The NHS is under “extraordinary pressure” and braced for a new year surge in sick patients as amber cold health alerts were issued for the whole of England.

While the number of patients in hospital with flu is levelling off, according to data published on Wednesday, health leaders said the NHS was “not out of danger yet” with temperatures expected to plummet.