“STARK” increases for A&E walk-ins, emergency admissions and waiting times last month have broken previous records, sparking warnings from medics and the Labour Party over an impending winter crisis.

Around 2.06 million people attended A&Es in October — 0.9 per cent more than in 2017, according to data released today by NHS England. A total of 89.1 per cent were admitted, transferred or discharged within the target of four hours.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said the figures should “ring alarm bells” for the NHS and the government as winter approaches.