LONDON 

Growing pressure on UK hospitals continues as the bed occupancy rate has reached the second-highest level this winter, according to the latest data by the country's National Health Service (NHS).

"Over 14,000 beds were taken up by patients who no longer needed to be there last week - the second highest ever recorded and 12% higher than the same period last year (12,498)," the NHS said on Thursday.

Also, over 19 in 20 beds were occupied across adult general and acute hospital wards during the second week of the year.

The NHS noted that the number of flu cases in hospitals has been dropping over the last two weeks.

However, the high pressure on Accidents and Emergency services still continues, as NHS still sees over 10,000 patients arrive by ambulance daily.