Following reports of record-breaking pressure on England’s hospital A&E departments and ambulance services, it emerged on Wednesday that the NHS will suspend the publication of weekly performance figures for three full weeks from Friday 19th December.

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham will today (Thursday 18th December) call on Jeremy Hunt to order NHS England to release the data and ensure the public can see how local A&E departments cope over Christmas and New Year.

NHS England has confirmed the figures will still be collected from hospital trusts but they have taken a decision not to publish.

The data covers the number of patients attending A&E departments; patients waiting too long to be seen; numbers kept on trolleys up to and over 12 hours; ambulances queued outside hospitals; vehicles diverted to other A&Es; bed capacity; and cancelled operations.

The figures should be released on working days over the festive period and maintain the weekly routine whilst pressure on hospitals remains at unprecedented levels.

Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister said:

“Things are getting worse, but soon we won’t know how much worse. The Government hasn’t yet said how it plans to turn this situation around – Ministers should make a statement to Parliament before Christmas.

“It is highly unsatisfactory to have this news blackout over the crucial Christmas period. People can’t be kept in the dark.

“The next three weeks’ figures will show whether major A&Es have missed the four hour target for every single week of 2014. A&Es have been trapped in a downward spiral by David Cameron’s decision to abolish guaranteed GP appointments and undermine social care.

“Jeremy Hunt says he believes in transparency. He needs to be transparent when the NHS is entering the most difficult period in years.”

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