Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to A&E performance figures released this morning showing the continuing Tory NHS crisis said:

“These figures show that hospitals all over England remain at their limits and are sailing dangerously close to the wind. The Tory A&E crisis shows no sign of easing and too many patients continue to suffer poor care. It is having a damaging effect on the care of thousands of patients right across the NHS, with far too many now suffering the distress of having even the most urgent operations cancelled at the last minute.

"David Cameron must personally explain the steps he will take to bring England’s A&Es back up to acceptable standards. He caused this crisis by making it harder to see a GP and taking social care support away from hundreds of thousands of people. The Prime Minister has failed to produce a plan to turn things around and his complacency cannot continue. The Government is gambling with patient safety and allowing far too many patients to be exposed to far too much risk – proof you can’t trust the Tories with the NHS.

"Without solutions to their own crisis, the Government should implement Labour’s five-point A&E plan without delay. They should match Labour’s commitment to give the NHS an extra £2.5 billion each year to provide a long-term solution to this crisis and recruit the doctors and nurses it desperately needs.”