Leaked documents obtained by The Independent show there were just 15 new paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) beds opened between 2022 and 2023 despite rising demand.

The investigation found doctors were being forced to send severely unwell children miles away to receive intensive care and hospitals cancelling vital operations and come after nine-month-old Iona Grace Buckingham died in December 2022 from a Group A Strep infection after she was not able to be admitted to a critical care bed because none were available.

An NHS spokesperson said: ‘The NHS is facing significant demand for services and quality of care remains a priority - one of the key ambitions of our urgent and emergency care recovery plan is to improve patient flow in and out of hospitals. The NHS delivered an extra 5,000 core beds this winter, alongside measures to help patients avoid an A&E admission in the first place.

‘NHS trusts across the country use a variety of models and measures to improve their own patient flow and we continue to monitor these to identify solutions that are safe, effective, and protect patients' privacy and dignity. We are working closely with colleagues in local authorities and community settings to send more patients home when they are medically fit to leave, freeing up beds for patients who need them most.'