Heidi Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to David Cameron’s comments at PMQs, said:

“However much David Cameron might try and dodge the questions, he cannot deny that the NHS has gone backwards on his watch.

“Hospitals are dealing with record deficits, there is a crisis in A&E and record numbers of elderly patients are stuck in hospital because of a lack of care in the community. It’s a nightmare before Christmas for hospital bosses and for patients.

“What we failed to hear from the Prime Minister today was an admission that this is a crisis of his own making. The cuts his Government have made to social care have led to a rising demand on hospitals, with more and more older people having to be admitted to A&E because they can’t get the support they need at home.

“Rather than tackling these issues, the Prime Minister is covering up the scale of the challenges facing the NHS this winter by blocking the publication of key performance figures.

“Today’s crisis in the NHS is further proof that Tory health policies are failing patients and failing staff.”