THE NUMBER of patients waiting more than 12 hours in A&E has soared ahead of winter, damning new statistics showed today.

In October, some 49,592 had to wait half a day for admission, up from 38,000 the month before and the third-highest figure since comparable records began.

The number of patients waiting at least four hours at hospital accident and emergency departments also rose to 148,789, up by 18,000 on the month before.