Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to the report from the Nuffield Trust on deteriorating NHS performance and the development of “systemic” problems, said:

“This is a timely report that confirms the deterioration of the NHS under David Cameron, and the Tory-led Government’s loss of control of the things in the NHS that matter most to the public, such as waiting times for cancer and A&E. It is exactly the kind of authoritative information people need before they vote.

“The NHS has been thrown off course by David Cameron’s reorganisation and it is now failing to deliver – leaving thousands of people without the standards of care they deserve. 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, including a Time to Care Fund to recruit 20,000 more nurses, 8,000 more GPs, binding waiting time guarantees of GPS appointments within 48 hours, and cancer tests within one week.”

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