Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to the Government’s statement on ambulance response times and the publication of A&E performance figures, said:

“This is the worst winter for years in England’s A&Es. It is not the time for experiments nor relaxing operational standards. This could mean patients waiting longer for ambulances.

"We’re not against the idea of a pilot but it should be done in a quieter summer period. The Government must urgently provide reassurance this can be done without putting patient safety at risk.

"Last week, A&E got so bad that 95 per cent of England’s hospitals failed to hit the Government’s own waiting time target. The number of patients waiting too long has doubled since January last year. It is more proof you cannot trust the Tories with the NHS.

"David Cameron triggered the A&E crisis by taking social care support away from hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people. His complacency is now a danger to patient safety - the Government should accept Labour’s five point plan to bring A&Es back up to acceptable standards. We will rescue the NHS with a £2.5 billion a year Time to Care fund - on top of Tory spending plans - to fund new staff, including 8,000 more GPs.”