Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to reports on A&E attendances and admissions today, said:

“Over Christmas, hospital admissions through A&E hit a three-year high as brutal cuts to social care left millions of older people without adequate support at home.

“Ministers have taken away the alternatives to A&E too. Under David Cameron, it has got harder to get a GP appointment and a quarter of NHS Walk-in Centres have closed – only adding to the pressure in A&E departments.

“The Prime Minister’s fingerprints are all over the growing crisis in A&E. He must urgently shore up collapsing care services and help patients to get GP appointments.”