Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to NHS England figures on the performance of England’s A&E departments last week, said:

“The Government still is not getting a grip on the pressure in the NHS – David Cameron is presiding over a crisis in A&E. These are the worst figures since before Christmas.

“Ministers caused this crisis by systematically dismantling GP services and elderly care and the result has been a devastating surge in patients coming to hospital A&E departments across England.

“It’s clear the NHS as we know it can’t survive another five years of the Tories’ failing plan. Labour has a better plan, to invest in and improve our NHS so that it has time to care for patients.

“Labour will guarantee a GP appointment within 48 hours, and on the same day if you need it. We will bring health and social care services together to ensure older people finally get the care and support they deserve, tackling the scourge of care visits limited to 15 minutes. And we will tackle the NHS workforce crisis by recruiting 20,000 more nurses and 8,000 more GPs, paid for by a mansion tax on properties worth over £2 million, tackling tax avoidance, and a new levy on tobacco firms.”