more than 4.5 million people were waiting to begin hospital treatment in england at the end january, that s the highest number since records began in 2007. the royal college of surgeons has called the situation to turn things around. here s our health editor, hugh pym. hospital wards devoted to covid. the surge in numbers over the last two months led to widespread cancellations of less urgent types of care, and there s still a backlog from last year s first covid peak. today s figures highlight again the scale of the problem. charmaine has severe arthritis, and last year was hoping to have a knee replacement. she was told in november she d have to wait another 12 months. she s currently out of work and the task of finding a newjob keeps getting harder. i hate not being able to work. how do i say to a new employer, thanks for thejob, but maybe in a couple of months, i might need three months off for a knee replacement. patient waits for non urgent care have increased around t
china s communist party rules only pro beijing candidates will be able to stand for hong kong s parliament. and £50 million at auction for a digital artwork that doesn t physically exist. and coming up in sport on bbc news, amad diallo scores his first manchester united goal, but a late equaliser for ac milan leaves the round of 16 europa league tie evenly poised. good evening. the family of sarah everard has tonight paid tribute to her, saying she brought so muchjoy to their lives, and that she was a strong and principled person who was a shining example to all. the 33 year old was last seen over a week ago, walking home from a friend s house in clapham in south london. today, police continued searching woodland in ashford in kent, where human remains have been found. a serving officer in the metropolitan police, arrested on suspicion of ms everard s murder, remains in custody. earlier today he was taken to hospital, after suffering from head injuries. our special corre