Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Health, commenting on reports from the Pediatric Intensive Care Society that some pediatric units are operating at 115% of capacity, said:

“These are extremely worrying reports of seriously ill children waiting for hours for an intensive care bed, and being transported as far as 120 miles from their homes to receive medical treatment.

"It seems not a day goes by without another case of how the NHS is struggling to cope with the number of patients in our hospitals. What’s more, winter is only expected to make this worse, and Ministers don’t have a plan to ensure the NHS has the resources it needs.

“Ministers failed to give the NHS and social care a single penny of extra investment in the Autumn Statement.

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

Ends

Editor’s Note:

1. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/dec/10/acutely-ill-children-waiting-nine-hours-for-beds-nhs-paediatricians