Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on today’s A&E performance data, said:

“In the week that Jeremy Hunt told the House of Commons ‘the crisis is behind us’, the NHS has missed the Government’s A&E target for the second week running. His complacency is a danger to patients. He needs to cut the spin and get a grip on what is going on.

"A&E departments are in danger of being overwhelmed and this is before the worst of the winter pressure has even started. This week’s figure show a new high in emergency admissions to hospital from A&E - a clear sign that too many frail, older people are struggling to cope because of the loss of care support at home.

"David Cameron’s fingerprints are all over the crisis in A&E. On his watch, it has got harder to get a GP appointment and people are ringing surgeries to be told nothing is available for days. Add to that his severe cuts to social care, the closure of Walk-In Centres and the break-up of NHS Direct and we have an A&E crisis made in 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister must act now to keep patients safe this winter.”