MORE than 200 patients in Bolton were left waiting after arriving at hospital by ambulance during the first two weeks of winter.

Health chiefs have admitted they are 'facing significant pressures' with nearly a fifth of arrivals at hospital stranded for more than 30 minutes.

According to the latest figures released by NHS England 104 patients were with ambulance crew for over an hour at Royal Bolton Hospital between November 20 and December 3.

A further 155 were left waiting between 30 minutes and an hour.

The figures were released as NHS Providers warned the health service in England would be 'sorely tested' during the colder months, when there was traditionally a significant rise in demand for services due to flu, norovirus, and respiratory conditions.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust chief operating officer Andy Ennis said they were doing all they could to improve the speed with which arrivals were assessed and treated.

He added: "In common with other trusts across the country, we are facing significant pressures on our urgent care systems; which is reflected in the amount of time some patients are waiting to be transferred when arriving by ambulance.

"While the figures are higher than we would like, we are working closely with our colleagues at the North West Ambulance Service to reduce this; however our A&E department remains very busy.

"Patient safety is our absolute priority."

In the two weeks between November 20 and December 3, Bolton has seen 1,345 ambulances arriving at its doors.

Nineteen per cent of those arrivals have experienced significant delays, with the worst occasions on November 30 and December 3 where 14 patients on both days waited for more than 60 minutes.

However, so far this winter no ambulances have been diverted away from Royal Bolton and there have been no A&E closures.

Nationally 11 per cent of ambulances to general and acute trust hospitals have experienced delays of 30 minutes and more in handing over patients – 20,818 recorded cases in the two weeks.

NHS Providers, which represents health service acute, ambulance, community and mental health services, said that while winter planning in the health service in England was 'extensive and more effective than ever before', the NHS was 'not where it would want to be' heading into winter.

It warned that this year's flu strain was 'potentially the worst we have seen in two decades', forcing hospitals to close to new patients.

Chief executive Chris Hopson said: "Winter always presents a big challenge to the NHS.

"We cannot say with certainty how tough this winter will be, but the likelihood is that services will be sorely tested.

"We must hope the considerable efforts to curb the impact of flu are successful."