Number of patients awaiting discharge in London hospitals up 14% in a year

The number of patients stuck in London hospitals waiting to be discharged is 14 per cent higher than at the same point last year, figures revealed on Friday, as the NHS braces for its busiest period.

Analysis of NHS data by the Standard shows that 1,548 patients remained in a hospital bed on November 20 despite being medically fit to be discharged, a rise of 198 on the figure reported a year ago.