Callers to Worcestershire’s 111 helpline waited 37 times longer to access help last month as health services nationally experienced their busiest month on record.

NHS England data shows it took an average of 1,473 seconds, or around 25 minutes, for West Midlands 111 helpline operators to answer calls from people seeking medical help in September – 37 times longer than in April (40 seconds).

Furthermore, 47 per cent of the 165,424 calls made to the service were abandoned before being answered, a staggering increase from the 2 per cent recorded in April.

Across England, the average waiting time was around nine minutes while a quarter of the 1.9 million calls made were abandoned.

Dr Sarah Scobie, deputy director of research at the Nuffield Trust, said: “Increasing waiting times across the board are a result of the continued impact of the pandemic including staff absences.

“There were an average of over 73,500 staff absent in the last week of September, and the increasing number of Covid hospitalisations we are seeing this autumn suggests a difficult winter ahead.”

An extra £23 million has been given to the service to help meet increased call volume.

Further figures show that major A&E departments across the country treated more than 1.39 million people in September, the highest ever September figure, while almost a million calls were made to 999.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “There is no doubt the NHS is running hot, with the highest ever number of patients seen in A&E in September, 14 times as many Covid patients in hospital compared to the same month last year, and record ambulance call-outs.

“But despite the busiest September on record, NHS staff have moved heaven and earth to make the best possible use of additional investment, delivering millions more tests, checks, treatments and operations.

“That is why it is really important people do not delay seeking help from the NHS if they feel unwell.

“Anyone needing help should come forward through 111 online so that staff can help you with the best option for your care.”

The NHS said the September figures were provisional, and may be revised.