Last year's winter crisis was a media myth, according to a report from the NHS Executive.

It says emergency demand increased 'significantly' between Christmas and new year, with influenza hitting elderly people and causing hospital stays averaging 10 days instead of four days in previous winters.

But it argues that 'extensive preparations and additional levels of staffing' meant the situation was 'managed effectively'.

By 17 January, 98 per cent of trusts were performing urgent elective surgery even though 'there was a public perception, fuelled by the media, that the NHS was in difficulty'.

Although there were 'high profile' cases of bed shortages and cancelled operations, the report says 'staff working on the ground in services did not generally share the public perception'.

The Executive concludes that local winter planning groups were effective and primary care functioned better than the previous winter.

Twenty per cent more GP services were open over holidays than the previous year.

It also concludes that NHS Direct helped to take the strain, taking 113,500 calls throughout Christmas week, compared to 40,000 over normal winter weeks, and that the Choose the Right Remedy campaign was a success.

For the following winter, it recommends a 'more active flu programme', already agreed by the government, further planning and further work to free capacity and reduce delayed discharges.