Almost 1,800 people who went to A&E in January waited more than 12 hours to be admitted

A record number of patients had to wait for more than 12 hours in A&E in Cambridgeshire last month. Almost 1,800 people who went to A&E in the county this January had to wait for more than 12 hours from a decision to admit to actually being admitted.

That’s up from nearly 1,300 in December and 1,400 in November. It’s also the highest number on record, surpassing the previous record of 1,500 set in January 2025.

The number of attendances at Cambridgeshire A&Es that face waits of more than 12 hours has been on the rise ever since the pandemic.

In January 2020, only 47 attendances at the county’s A&Es faced a wait of more than 12 hours. That was a record at the time, more than double the amount of any previous month.

By January 2021 that rose to 68, and then to 502 in January 2022. A year later 1,100 faced a 12-hour wait. In January 2024 it was 1,500 and in January 2025 it was over 1,500.

You can see how 12-hour waits at your local trust have changed by using our interactive:

A Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “Delivering shorter waiting times for patients coming to hospital in an emergency is one of our top priorities. In 2023, 9.9% of patients waited 12 hours or more following their arrival at our Emergency Department, rising to 11.3% in 2024. In 2025, this improved to 8.8% of patients. This is in the context of increasing levels of demand with 151,914 patients requiring access to urgent and emergency care in 2025, an increase from 139,019 in 2023.

“We are working hard to reduce the time patients are waiting in the Emergency Department. We have invested in a newly refurbished and expanded Urgent Care Centre to help patients get the right treatment in the right place as quickly as possible. Along with improved same day emergency care facilities, we are working hard to discharge those patients ready to go home and freeing up beds for those who need them by using our virtual ward and increased capacity in the discharge lounge.”

Kerry Carroll, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke, and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals, said: “We are working hard to reduce waiting times in our Emergency Departments, and it remains a high priority for us.

“Whilst we have seen improvements to waiting times through 2025, we are continuing our focus upon the recovery plans to further shorten waiting times as we know how much this improves patient experience. This work is being delivered along with our local health system partners to support improvements for patients at every step of the urgent and emergency care journey.”

The number of people waiting over 12 hours in A&E is on the rise across England as a whole. There were 71,500 attendances at A&Es in England in January where there was a 12-or-more hour wait from a decision to admit to being admitted.

That’s up from 61,000 in January 2025, 54,300 in January 2024, and 42,800 in January 2023.

Today’s star signs as Scorpio advised to spend time outdoors for clarity of thought.

Aries

You find yourself on your own while others expect you to take charge in a group setting. This situation may have caught you off guard and you might struggle to communicate your thoughts effectively or create the desired personal impression. Make it your intention to win over a team of moderators. Trust that your unique perspective can be a vital asset.

Taurus

Keep your distance from people who are being difficult. Your emotions are chaotic right now. Give yourself time to see if your feelings remain the same tomorrow. If you feel a need to reach out to a family member or close friend, go with your instincts. The bonds you share will provide comfort, remindingyou that support is always within reach.

Gemini

A happy start to the day has something to do with a close relationship and this gives you a lot to be pleased about. As the warmth of connection surrounds you, relish these joyful moments. At the same time, acting on impulse later could lead to regrets. If you’re dissatisfied with your job, it would be best to hold off from quitting until you secure another position.

Cancer

Recent troubles are fading away. Even though the situation isn’t totally clear, it will be a relief to see improvements. Be cautious about believing everything you hear in private conversations at work. Take an interest in an internal training scheme. Embrace the positive changes, for they may lead to unexpected opportunities that enhance your journey.

Leo

If you’re getting into a debate, whether this relates to politics, religion or community issues, keep in mind that you might be wrong. Be respectful of differing views. The exchange of ideas can be enlightening, opening doors to a broader perspective. It won’t be a problemto delay travel plans if a relative has several valid reasons for you to stay home.

Virgo

Career anxiety or concerns about a romantic situation are causing you to feel unsettled. Don’t let it turn into a reality when someone tries to instigate a surprise scheme. Rash actions will only worsen existing issues. Instead, focus on repairing your relationship with your partner. Embrace the opportunity for heartfelt conversations.

Libra

Your faith in a workmate or neighbour could turn out to be misplaced. Someone who said they would help you seems less keen now to carry out this promise. By the time they are ready to play their part, it will be too late to achieve anything worthwhile. The afternoon is likely to be exhausting, leaving you to question the reliability of those around you.

Scorpio

A quick change to arrangements with your partner or a close friend may lead to stress and disagreement. You might believe you’ve heard everything others have to say, but expect further verbal repercussions down the line. If you can, choose your words with care. Spending time in the garden or outdoors will be therapeutic, allowing clarity of thought.

Sagittarius

If you’re busy with home renovations or a project has begun without any planning, you may wish you had adopted a more structured strategy. Now you’re facing challenges that could disrupt your work and commitments. Is it possible to go back to square one? Trust your instincts; sometimes, a fresh perspective can lead to unexpected solutions.

Capricron

Community activities aren’t going well. A newcomer to the scene will seem to rub other people up the wrong way. A friend’s laid-back approach makes it difficult for them to assist with practical matters. Everything feels off until the early evening, when a team effort finally starts to improve. As the day unfolds, a spark of creativity may emerge.

Aquarius

A person you barely know might suggest a money-making opportunity. It’s wise to proceed with caution. Not all relevant information is clear yet and you can’t be sure if this person is trustworthy. If you’re invited to invest in an ambitious scheme, take a momentto reconsider. Trust your instincts; sometimes a second glance reveals hidden truths.

Pisces

It’s all systems go now. A persona lplan promises to transform your lifestyle. You have complete trust that this is going to turnout as planned. Work or volunteer activities related to music, art or entertainment will be a success. In your job, a timely action or revelation will prove to be effective. The creative energy may lead to new connections.

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The road was closed for five hours due to the incident

A police incident closed a major road in Cambridgeshire overnight.

The A11 northbound was shut between the A1307 Cambridge and A1304 Six Mile Bottom due to the incident.

Cambridge Police were at the scene on the busy road.

National Highways said that the incident occurred just after 9pm on Sunday, February 22. The road remained closed for five hours.

It fully reopened just before 3am.

A diversion route was in place as police carried out there work at the scene.

Responding to the announcement of more money targeted towards making mainstream schools more inclusive, Matt Wrack, general secretary of the union NASUWT, said: “£1.6bn over three years may sound like a lot of money, but it equates to just a few thousand pounds per setting.”

“I love getting to see the kids develop their confidence and seeing all their friendships”

When they came up with the idea to start their own theatre company in the living room one day, Alex McKelvey and Katie-Rose Spence could never have imagined the musical magic they would create a decade on.

Both with extensive backgrounds in drama and musical theatre, the pair decided to open East Broadway Theatre Company, a dynamic performing arts organisation based in East Belfast.

Since 2016, East Broadway has been dedicated to bringing people together through creativity, confidence, and community and offering affordable tuition to young people wanting to follow their passion.

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In their 10th year, they are kicking off celebrations with a production at the Belvoir Studio Theatre of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ – and Belfast Live popped down to see rehearsals getting underway.

Creative director Kaite-Rose and Musical Director Alex met through performing with the Belvoir Players and decided to go out on a whim and stage some things themselves.

Katie-Rose said: “Alex wanted to do a concert and around the same time, we were asked to perform at Sunflowerfest and if we could do something for kids and their families.

“The two things happened around the same time and we were like ‘oh we’ve enjoyed this, should we maybe try and make something out of it’ – 10 years later we’re here with a building and like 30 people downstairs ready to rehearse and perform.”

A charitable theatre company, East Broadway creates and produces a wide range of shows, concerts, and community performances, offering opportunities for people of all ages to develop their skills in acting, singing, and dancing.

“We started very small,” Katie-Rose continued. “It was a group of like 4 or 5 of us just that were doing small performances.

“We had started doing classes and rehearsing in Downser Hall on the Cregagh Road and after doing the classes for a while, Alex had the idea of doing a show.

“Our first show was Jungle Book Kids and we had nin children in it all playing various parts and double rolling – just making it happen.”

From that initial small group, East Broadway has continued to grow year on year and in 2025, secured their own rehearsal space where they can teach, inspire, and perform a new generation of talented performers.

She continued: “It’s been absolutely amazing getting to see the kids that have been with us from they were four starting in the classes, now like 11 or 12 and still with us, still doing the shows.

“I love getting to see the kids develop their confidence and seeing all their friendships – that was such a huge thing for me whenever I was wee, I had zero confidence and really struggled to make friends.

“Now watching the kids that maybe come in for their first audition or their first night, and they’re looking around and they’re terrified, just 3 weeks later having a group of friends. It does the heart good.”

Alex is in charge of all things music at the company and he has been honoured to watch a generation of young performers build their musicality over the past ten years.

He described getting their own space last year as “phenomenal” and a “pinch me moment” for East Broadway as their work is all voluntary and couldn’t happen without the passionate team of people involved behind the scenes.

Alex said: “We have always been and always are a community theatre. We’ve got affordable drama here – when we first started, we found that things were a bit dear, especially just for the skills that we acquired when we were young people.

“We’ve seen so many people grow in confidence and become a completely different person. They’ve tried out other groups and it hasn’t worked out, but it’s just so nice that it has worked out here for them.

“When we got this space, everybody was like this is brilliant because they can call it home – we were rehearsing out of a council building for a while and then now, having our own space, it’s just brilliant.”

Looking ahead to the next 10 years, Alex laughed: “We never thought we would get to this 10 years so it’s crazy to think.

“Katie and I had a conversation not long ago about the fact that if you said to us in 2016 while we were sitting on that sofa that would we be here in 10 years, we’d think we would have laughed in each other’s faces.”

Alex, Katie-Rose and the rest of the East Broadway team and working hard to bring their colourful performance of Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat to the Belvoir Studio Theatre from 25-28th March. To buy ticket to the show, see here.

To find out more about what East Broadway does, see here

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Martin O’Neill criticised VAR intervention after Auston Trusty was sent off for violent conduct in Celtic’s 2-1 defeat to Hibs, with the defender now suspended for the Rangers clash

Martin O’Neill hit out at VAR interference following Celtic’s costly loss to Hibs. The Parkhead manager voiced his frustration after two pivotal second-half decisions swung momentum against his team in the 2-1 defeat.

With the match level at 1-1 and under 20 minutes left on the clock, Auston Trusty received a straight red card following an altercation in the penalty area with Hibs midfielder Jamie McGrath.

O’Neill revealed that referee Matthew MacDermid informed him post-match that he had originally planned merely to have a word with both players before VAR official Grant Irvine instructed him to check the pitchside screen.

After reviewing the replays, MacDermid determined Trusty had engaged in violent conduct, and Celtic’s frustration mounted when, moments later, Liam Scales tumbled in the penalty area during a corner following a shirt pull from Hibs defender Jack Iredale, reports the Daily Record.

Appeals from Celtic players, including the Irish defender, were dismissed by MacDermid, with Irvine opting not to intervene on this occasion.

Discussing the dismissal, O’Neill stated: “Well, I’ve just had a word with the referee. He said he was just going to have a word with the two players, first of all. Then I think VAR intervened and said it was violent conduct.”

When it was suggested to O’Neill that this amounted to re-refereeing the match, he responded: “They’ve been doing it for years, so that’s not going to change.”

O’Neill then addressed the penalty incident involving Scales, commenting: “The referee, I think his words were, he didn’t hold onto him long enough, but it seems a wee bit strange. You’re grabbing someone’s shirt as he’s making a move to get the ball and holding onto his shirt. Some years ago it was a penalty. But VAR, they’ve passed that one on, so there we go.”

Following the final whistle, O’Neill had a word with Trusty, and whilst VAR’s involvement was significant, the manager acknowledged that his centre-back’s actions were misguided given today’s standards.

He explained: “I’ve spoken to him. At the end of it all, you can’t do this. If that’s the rules now, it doesn’t matter if someone is holding onto you, in an attempt to breakaway, you can’t thrust down in the manner in which he did to get away. So I’ve been told it’s violent conduct.”

The dismissal means Trusty will miss Sunday’s Premiership fixture against Rangers at Ibrox.

Celtic previously lodged an appeal last month when the American defender received his marching orders in the 2-2 stalemate with Hearts at Tynecastle.

Nevertheless, considering the seriousness of the infringement and the rationale O’Neill received, the boss doesn’t anticipate challenging this particular decision.

He stated: “Personally I wouldn’t have thought so. The referee has explained to me that’s what VAR said. It was violent conduct, so I don’t think anyone will change their minds on that.”

The red card and penalty came at a crucial moment for Celtic, who had been building pressure and were close to scoring what could have been a decisive 2-1 goal in the latter stages of the match.

However, they ended up losing by that very scoreline, prompting O’Neill to reflect: “We played some really fantastic football. We went in 1-1 at half time and we should probably have been in front.

“The sending off has a big affect. We had the momentum at that stage. We had some chances second half and if you don’t put them away there’s a possibility at the other end.”

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Bolton Council’s local Bee Network committee met last week for the first time in nearly two years since their first and, until now, only meeting.

It was confirmed that the committee, originally established when the buses were first being franchised, would now be held quarterly.

Nick Fairclough, interim deputy director of buses at TfGM, told councillors they had inherited the bus network from the system of private operators.

Speaking at last Monday’s meeting (February 16), he said: “The way in which that network has developed over a hundred years or more is that routes haven’t been designed with an integrated network in mind.

“In many places, we still see buses competing with each other or competing with the train or Metrolink in other parts of the city region.

“They also don’t properly serve the needs of the modern economy in many places – they don’t adequately serve industrial sites or retail parks that are incredibly important for the economy as we have it today.”

Nick Fairclough speaks at the local Bee Network committee (Image: Bolton Council)

Mr Fairclough noted the success of the already implemented 24-hour bus services, including the 36 between Manchester and Bolton, and the 615 linking Middlebrook and Wigan.

He said: “I think where we are is that we’ve got a really strong in where the priorities are in Bolton, but we’re keen to build on that and keen to work with you to identify those.”

Cllr David Wilkinson said: “I’m glad to see we’re looking at retail parks and industrial areas because that, to say the least, is something that has been a bugbear for 20 odd years.

“People in Westhoughton who want to work at Logistics North have to go by private transport because there’s nothing to link us there.”

He noted several new industrial and housing developments planned near Westhoughton, such as Gibfield Park, and said they would need “really improved links”.

The committee was held in Bolton Town Hall (Image: Bolton Council)

Cllr Sean Fielding said: “To see that Wigan got a connection reinstated to Middlebrook, yet we don’t have our own, and it’s in our borough – I’m sure you can appreciate that that’s incredibly frustrating for members.

“And I support Cllr Wilkinson’s comments around ensuring that we adapt to the amount of development that is proposed to take place, particularly in the west of the borough, as it happens rather than waiting for it to happen and responding to it.”

Mr Fairclough said: “We certainly agree. I think, in terms of Middlebrook and Logistics North, we see two areas that are not currently served as well as they should be.

“Certainly our planning team is looking very closely at both of those areas now and we’re aware of the need to improve connectivity both from a jobs perspective and an access to retail perspective.”

He said that connecting new developments to the bus network early is “something we’d really like to do more of”.

He said: “One of the benefits of local control of the bus network is that we should be able to get in early and be proactive.

“Look at what’s coming down the pipeline in terms of residential, commercial, and industrial development and try to build a market for the bus network – perhaps before everyone is moved in, in a way that wasn’t really possible in the previous commercial market.”

Yep, that’s right, you’ve been advised to take a tennis ball with you.

No, not so you can serve an ace up the aisle to catch an attendant’s attention, it’s actually to avoid stiffness or aches while in the air.

It can also be used to enhance circulation, intended to be used by gently applying pressure and rolling it up and down the thighs, legs, or even shoulders, according to health experts.

Registered osteopath and qualified sleep therapist Tracy Hannigan has recommended using a tennis ball in tandem with another teeny piece of paraphernalia.

Oh poppet, it’s a military base. Why did you think you could visit? It’s not a destination for your holibobs. https://t.co/J4hvYmQiM6

— Jess Brown-Fuller MP (@JessBrownFuller) February 21, 2026

She told The Metro: “A great tip is to find a hand towel, put the ball in the middle of it and roll it like a sausage. When you then apply pressure using the ball, it’s easier to position and will prevent it from skidding out of position, which can be painful.

“A tennis ball is small and light and can help you to apply soothing pressure to points you might otherwise not be able to reach.

“You can even stretch your lower back in your plane seat, by crossing your legs and leaning forward, as if you’re trying to reach down to the crossed-over foot with your elbow,” she added.

Here are the primary NHS tips for managing stiffness:

1. Movement and Exercise (Most Important)

Keep Active: Regular movement is the most effective way to reduce stiffness.

Gentle Movement: Avoid staying in one position for too long. Move for short periods every hour, even if it is just a short walk.

Low-Impact Activity: Engage in swimming, cycling, yoga, or tai chi to improve mobility without overloading joints.

Stretching: Perform daily stretches for affected muscles, moving joints through their full, comfortable range. Hold stretches for 20 to 30 seconds, repeating 2 to 3 times a day.

“Little and Often”: It is better to move gently throughout the day rather than doing one long, intense session.

2. Heat and Cold Therapy

Heat Therapy: Use hot water bottles, heat-rub creams, or have warm baths to relax stiff muscles and joints.

Cold Therapy: Apply an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel for up to 20 minutes to reduce pain and swelling, especially if the stiffness is due to a recent sprain or strain.

Temperature Control: Keep warm to prevent stiffness in cold weather.

There is no escaping the wet weather over the next few days but there is the prospect of a better outlook on the horizon

The Met Office have released their latest weather forecast for Northern Ireland over the next few days. Today was billed as having bright intervals and occasional blustery showers which would see windy conditions at times.

Some heavy rains are expected on Sunday with the chance of thunder. The maximum temperature will be 11 °C as tonight sees more showers anticipated with more frequent patches of rain due across the north and west of the region. The start of the work week will bring sunny intervals with the odd shower still expected to haunt Monday. Freshening south-westerly breezes will see a maximum temperature of 12C.

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The mid-week forecast will see a cloudy outlook for Tuesday to Thursday with outbreaks of rain which will occasionally be heavy. Still, some dry spells are expected as a mild spell of weather is due to come in, according to the forecast. As the days continue to get lighter, people will be looking forward to spring eventually appearing around the corner.

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