Jon Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to Theresa May’s comments on GP opening hours, said:

“First Ministers blamed patients, then Theresa May blamed the NHS England Boss Simon Stevens and now she is blaming family doctors.

“Rather that pointing the finger at others, she needs to take responsibility herself.

“Instead she tries to tell the British people that the NHS crisis is nothing more than just a ‘small number of incidents where unacceptable practises have taken place’. Patients, their families and hardworking over stretched NHS staff will be shocked at the Prime Minister’s casual dismissal of the realities of what’s happening on the ground.

“She now proposes something Tories have been promising, but failing to deliver, for 6 years. But we need a serious plan not more broken promises. Over 6 years it has gotten harder to see a GP.

“She has supported £4.6 billion of cuts to social care, refused to offer any help for social care in the Autumn Statement and even today stubbornly dismissed pleas to bring forward £700 million of social care cash.

“Theresa May’s response to this crisis has been dismissive, incompetent and floundering. Patients deserve better.”

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