More than 1,100 patients waited more than four hours for a bed at Wigan Infirmary last month

Nationally, there were 100,578 people delayed by more than four hours - the highest number since records began.

The performance statistics from NHS England show 2,846 patients waited more than 12 hours from decision to admit to admission, including 78 within Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust.

For both delays, this is the highest number of so-called trolley waits in England since records began.

It is an increase of 20.4 per cent and 353.9 per cent respectively from the same month a year ago, when there were 83,554 four-hour waits and just 627 12-hour waits.

British Medical Association council chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: “With nearly 200,000 people waiting over four hours on a trolley so far this winter - 56,000 more than the same time last year - and almost six times more people waiting over 12 hours on trolleys this winter compared to last, the Government is simply failing to get a grip on winter pressures.

“Stories of patient deaths on corridors, rammed emergency departments and cancellations of patients’ procedures as a daily occurrence are becoming the new norm as doctors across the country say they are exhausted and run into the ground.

“This is an unacceptable situation for a civilised health service; it is failing patients and is not sustainable.”

The NHS data also shows two out of every five patients waited more than four hours to be seen at Wigan Infirmary’s A&E department.

A total of 60.2 per cent of people were seen within the target time, dropping from 61.6 per cent in December.

The national standard is for hospitals to see 95 per cent of people in four hours, but this has not been met in Wigan for some time and there is speculation the target could be dropped by the Government.

In A&Es across England, there was a rise in the proportion of people seen on time, from 79.8 per cent - the worse performance on record - to 81.7 per cent.

For the whole of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, 76.3 per cent of A&E patients were admitted, transferred or discharged in four hours - the same performance achieved the month before.

Leigh’s walk-in centre saw 99.6 per cent of people on time, rising slightly from 99.3 per cent in December.

Nationally, the NHS figures also show that ambulances attended 750,238 incidents last month, making it the busiest January on record.

An NHS spokesman said January had seen improved A&E performance and faster ambulance response times compared with December.

She said: “This was aided by the sustained hard work of NHS staff, and the ability to open and staff more hospital beds than last year.

“This means that the NHS is well prepared to deal with the potential impact of coronavirus, although it remains important that anyone with health concerns should contact NHS 111.”

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust was contacted about the new data but did not provide a statement.