Jonathan Ashworth, Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on reports today that the number of patients waiting four hours or more to be allocated a hospital bed in England after being admitted to hospital for urgent care has risen, said:

“This is yet more worrying news of how the NHS is struggling to cope with the number of patients in our hospitals. What’s more Ministers have no plan for the winter.

“A&E departments are facing immense pressure, around 3.9 million people are on the waiting list and this situation could deteriorate over the winter months.

“The Autumn Statement failed to give the NHS and social care a single penny of extra investment. It was astonishing the Government have ignored NHS leaders and MPs of all parties in calling for more help for social care. The lack of social care funding is having a knock on effect on our overcrowded, overstretched hospitals with a record number of patients trapped in hospital wards with nowhere to go.

“The Tories need to take urgent action to ensure patients get the care they need.”

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