NHS hospitals are becoming ‘ dangerously ’ overcrowded and staff do not have enough time to clean-up between patients , experts warn . Some wards are more than 95 per cent full - well over the 85 per cent considered safe – placing patients at far higher risk of infections and neglect . A report by the Kings Fund today also warns that standards across the NHS including hitting waiting times and financial targets have slipped for the first time in 20 years . NHS hospitals are becoming ‘ dangerously ’ overcrowded and targets for waiting times are slipping , experts warn . The think-tank predicts there is a ‘ real risk ’ patient care will worsen next year because the health service is running out of money . Its experts are particularly concerned that many hospitals are becoming so overcrowded their wards are unsafe . Figures show that the average NHS hospital is 90 per cent full but in the last three months to December almost a fifth were more than 95 per cent occupied . This is partly because many hospitals have lost beds and closed wards as part of a long-term drive to treat more patients at home . John Appleby , chief economist at the 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 . But over that time , the numbers of frail patients being admitted to hospital from A & E has increased and they are being packed onto crowded wards where there is a high turnover . John Appleby , chief economist at the Kings Fund said : ‘ That is very worrying. ’ ‘ There is clearly pressure in the system to use beds more intensively as the money is tighter , but patients keep turning up at the front door . ‘ If they are used too intensively you haven ’ t got time to clean up between patients . ‘ The pressure is building and bubbling out in terms of bed occupancy levels which are getting dangerously high. ’ ‘ There are potential dangers with infections and not having enough time to clean beds. ’ The report 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 . And it predicts the waits may well get even longer next year as hospitals just do not have enough money to ensure patients are treated promptly . The NHS will have overspent its budget by more than £800 million by the end of this financial year and half of hospitals will be in the red . Mr Appleby added : ‘ The next Government will inherit a health service that has run out of money and is operating at the very edge of its limits . ‘ While the NHS has performed well in the face of huge challenges , there is now a real risk that patient care will deteriorate as service and financial pressures become overwhelming . Andy Burnham MP , Labour 's Shadow Health Secretary , said the report was proof that David Cameron had ‘ broken ’ his promise to protect the NHS . ‘ Our assessment is it 's going to be very difficult indeed next year . ‘ My speculation would be that once the system is under pressure financially next year as well , we 're going to see some real problems with waiting times and that 's going to have to be addressed , and patients will really feel that . Andy Burnham MP , Labour 's Shadow Health Secretary , said the report was proof that David Cameron had ‘ broken ’ his promise to protect the NHS . ‘ What this report reveals , is that he is on course to create a large deficit in the NHS . ‘ Hospitals are now trapped in a financial vicious circle with bills for agency staff running out of control and staff failing to keep pace with demand. ’ Clive Turner , 74 died last year after waiting five hours for an ambulance only to be misdiagnosed at hospital . Lilly Baxandall , 95 , died after waiting four hours in a queue of ambulances at Glan Clwyd Hospital , North Wales . A coroners hearing was told Miss Baxandall ’ s cleaner dialled 999 on September 1 last year when she found her on the floor after a fall . She had a cut on her head but was still conscious . Paramedics arrived soon after and she was transported to hospital in an ambulance two hours later . But Coroner John Gittins said , there was evidence to suggest 11 ambulances were queuing outside A & E waiting to discharge patients . ‘ Over the course of the next few hours she began to decline and paramedics were becoming concerned at the delay in admission , ’ he said . By the time she was finally admitted to the Bodelwyddan hospital , four hours later , her family said it was too late . A post-mortem examination found she died of pneumonia due to bleeding on the brain , caused by the head injury . The coroner also referred to the death of Clive Turner , 73 . In March 2014 , retired engineer Mr Turner called an ambulance after suffering internal bleeding . But it was five hours before he was admitted to hospital where he was then misdiagnosed . He died the following day .
A new report has said hospitals are becoming ‘ dangerously ’ overcrowded . Some wards are more than 95 per cent full raising the risk of infections . A & E warned waiting times and financial targets have also slipped . There was a ‘ real risk ’ care will worsen as 'NHS is running out of money '