Justin Madders MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, commenting on reports about the NHS’s performance over Christmas, said:

“The NHS is clearly under growing pressure this winter.

“Hospitals are dangerously full, patients are waiting hours in A&E, and some hospital bosses have had no choice but to close their doors in order to cope.

“Ministers have been warned on numerous occasions that cuts to older people’s care in the home will have a knock-on effect on the NHS. 300,000 fewer older people are now getting the crucial help they need than when David Cameron came to power, meaning too many older people are ending up in hospital this winter unnecessarily.

“The Government needs to urgently set out how it intends to support the NHS this winter and ensure patients get the care and support they need.”