Thousands of operations postponed as hospitals buckle under winter pressures
55,000 pre-planned operations could be affected across the UK.
It's estimated tens of thousands of pre-planned operations across the UK could be postponed until at least the end of January as hospitals battle severe winter pressures.
In a drastic step to try to free up hospital staff and beds, NHS England has urged hospitals to defer day-case procedures and routine outpatient appointments until January 31.
Officials have estimated it could lead to up to 55,000 deferred surgeries but cancer operations and time-critical procedures will go ahead as planned.
The move comes after leading medics warned that every emergency department in the country is struggling to cope with winter pressures.
Some hospitals have declared themselves at the most severe pressure level while doctors warned that scores are operating at almost full capacity.
NHS England hopes the measures will free up senior hospital doctors to triage more patients in A&E, be available for phone advice for GPs and ensure that patients in hospitals are reviewed twice each day to help timely discharges.
In a statement, NHS England said that the panel discussed "sustained pressure over the Christmas period'' with high levels of respiratory illness, high bed occupancy levels, signs of increased flu activity and a rise in the number of severe cases attending A&E.
Sir Bruce, NHS England national medical director, said: "I want to thank NHS staff who have worked incredibly hard under sustained pressure to take care of patients over the Christmas.
"We expect these pressures to continue and there are early signs of increased flu prevalence.
"The NHS needs to take further action to increase capacity and minimise disruptive last-minute cancellations. That is why we are making these further recommendations.''