Number of NHS patients waiting longer than 18 weeks for treatment rises to half a million

The number of patients waiting longer than 18 weeks for treatment rose to more than half a million in November, according to the latest figures released by NHS England.

There were, however, fewer patients waiting longer than four hours in A&E departments across England in December compared with the same period last year.

But there are warnings now that the cold and rising cases of flu will put yet more pressure on hospitals.