article_snippet: A report by Kings Fund today also warns that standards across NHS including hitting waiting times and financial targets have slipped for the first time in 20 years.
article_snippet: John Appleby, chief economist at Kings Fund, called the report 'worrying' The numbers of beds has halved in 26 years from around 300,000 in 1987/8 to 150,000 last year.
article_snippet: John Appleby, chief economist at the Kings Fund said: ‘That is very worrying.
article_snippet: ’ the report 'worrying also warns that targets for waiting times in A&E, cancer treatment and other operations and procedures have been repeatedly missed over the last year.
article_snippet: John Appleby, chief economist at the Kings Fund added:
highlights_snippet: Kings Fund warned waiting times and financial targets have also slipped .
  