Record levels of bed-blocking by patients with no one to look after them at home leaves NHS in crisis with 6,825 Brits in wards

RECORD levels of bed-blocking have left hospitals at “tipping point”.

There were 6,825 Brits a day stuck in wards in November because no one could look after them at home.

It is a 42 per cent increase on 2015 and the highest figure since records began in 2010.

Those waiting more than 12 hours on trolleys or chairs for a bed hit 456 — the second highest figure on record and 16 times higher than a year earlier.

And those left without a bed for four hours reached 52,769.

Stephen Dalton, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, blamed a lack of investment.

He said: “We have warned of the system approaching a tipping point for some time.

“But we are now starting to see proof that this point has been reached.”

NHS England blamed social care cuts for fuelling the crisis — and warned a lack of beds was crippling A&Es.

And Prof John Appleby, of health charity Nuffield Trust, said matters are “far more serious” than the figures indicate.

He warned: “The big test for the NHS will come in the weeks ahead.”

But the Department of Health claimed the “vast majority of people are seen quickly”.

PM Theresa May has said she has “full confidence” in NHS England boss Simon Stevens.